Senator's farm complex could see annex upgrade

Tuesday 23 January 2018

Plans have been submitted to upgrade the annex to a farmhouse apartment complex owned for around a century by the family of Senator Philip Ozouf.

Back in 2015, the former Minister gained Planning approval for 18 homes – a mixture of apartments and three- and four-bedroom houses – on the family farm site at Highstead, a listed 1850s 'Regency-style' rural villa.

The property has been linked with the Senator's family for generations. Jersey Heritage holds a blue registration form for a Francis Philip Ozouf of Highstead, St Saviour, born on 30 September 1882.

Pictured: An aerial view of the Highstead site on Rue de Tapon, St Saviour. (Google Maps)

Under Green Zone policy, Planning had hoped that the former agricultural buildings would remain in use, but after they were marketed without success, conversion of the barns to homes was accepted. 

15 of those units have since been sold, bringing in between £295,000 for a one-bedroom apartment to £715,000 for Highstead House 5.

Now revised plans have been put forward that would make alterations to an annex to the property, which includes two bedrooms and a study. It is at present linked to the main Highstead House building via an internal door and also enjoys access to the 948sqm private garden.

Pictured: Senator Philip Ozouf's family have been linked with the historic property for generations.

If approved, the area, which is currently used as accommodation for three staff, would undergo “internal refurbishment” as well as an addition of one new window on the first floor and a new door opening where a ground floor window currently sits.

Having analysed the proposed works, the Historic Environment team did not object to the application. 

Pictured: The site before works were carried out. (Google Maps)

Senator Ozouf, who lives in the Highstead complex himself, has been a States Member since 1999. He worked for several years as Treasury Minister, and was appointed an Assistant Chief Minister with responsible for the finance and digital sectors after the most recent general election. Having been made to resign from the Council of Ministers last year, the St Saviour-based politician remains a Senator with an island-wide mandate.