A dozen new flats are to be created in the Green Lanes, after Storm Goretti tore through the roof of existing buildings.
While the storm caused devastating damage to Maison Haro, Maison Grue, Maison Faite, and Mon Plaisir Apartments, the owner has spotted an opportunity to create 12 new flats by building up a level.
They submitted a planning application in April, months after the storm damage which left residents displaced for weeks while their homes were repaired.
The owner asked for permission to “raise and alter the roof ridge height” to create a third floor level in three buildings, making space for the additional 12 flats in total.
That’s been approved, despite some opposition from neighbours.
Some of the neighbours had raised concerns around a potential invasion of privacy from the new flats overlooking existing properties, the risk of ‘overdevelopment’ in the area, and increased vehicle movements.
A risk of increased anti-social behaviour, the removal of green spaces, and a loss of daylight for neighbours were also raised as potential problems.
Planning Officers said the application was approved because the Green Lanes are in the ‘Main Centre Outer Area’ and the proposal included the provision of 12 one-bedroom units “which meets the current housing needs”.
Work can now begin to create four new one-bed flats within a new pitched roof, at each of the three existing blocks of flats.
A garden area will be altered to provide 12 additional parking spaces for the new properties.
About 50 people were evacuated to hotels after a tree fell on several blocks of flats in St Peter Port during Storm Goretti.
The roof also started coming off one of the blocks of flats in the Green Lanes and St Jacques area.
The residents of the flats were taken to two hotels by emergency services and civil servants after midnight, with glass and other debris flying around in the wind.
College student Zack was in Maison Haro with his father and “a few neighbours”.
He told Express at the time they were evacuated to Hotel de Havelet just after 00:30.
A States spokesperson said the tree that fell had “caused structural damage to the buildings”.
