Gorey pumping station could make way for "sustainable" family home

Friday 07 April 2023

A "redundant" pumping station in St. Martin could be demolished to make way for a three-bedroom family home designed "to suit modern and sustainable living", if the Planning Department agrees.

The old pumping site on Mont De Gouray can be found between a Grade 4 Listed building and a set of steps.

The application was submitted by MS Planning, who described the proposed development in a supporting statement as being a "new sensitive contemporary building to suit modern and sustainable living".

Pictured: The old pumping site on Mont De Gouray can be found between a Grade-four listed building and a set of steps.

It continued: "The application site is on the northern side of Le Mont De Gouray, and currently contains a redundant pumping station, with overgrown scrubland behind.

"Immediately to the west is a public footpath, with steps rising up the slope and wrapping around the north of the site.

"The surrounding context is generally residential."

The coastline below was reclaimed land that was once the site of the Jersey Eastern Railway, which operated between 1891 and 1929. After the closure of the railway, a new coast road was built.

Pictured: The proposals for the three-bedroom house also include a roof terrace.

The supporting statement said: "During the 20th and 21st centuries, the newly reclaimed land has become much valued due to its sea views and proximity to the beach, harbour and Mont Orgueil, and development has consequently taken place between the harbour and Gorey Common, particularly since the later years of the 20th Century."

Socrates Architects also provided a supporting statement, which described the condition of the public steps next to the pumping station.

It added: "The pump station is a small granite structure in between two granite walls which rise up the hill along with a set of public steps to the west of the site, which travel up the hill and behind the pump station.

"The granite walls are weathered, giving the site an old and unstable appearance.

"The vegetation behind the pump station has overgrown onto the top of the pump station and onto the stairs. This makes the site appear uncared for and neglected."

The full planning application - which has been graded as 'Major' by Planning - can be viewed online. It is due to be decided on at the beginning of May.