Half of Field J525, which is east of Rue des Buttes and just south of the parish school and Clos de L’Ecole, now has the homes almost completed. The site was one of 16 identified for affordable homes in the Bridging Island Plan, although it had planning permission for development before then.

As part of the planning agreement, the western part of the field will become a playing field for the next-door school. The parish has agreed to purchase that part of the field from developer GR Langlois and then enter a long-term lease with the school.

Revised plans for the playing field, which now includes a 3G pitch in the middle, a path running around it, allotments and a teaching area, have been submitted to Planning.

Field J525, La Rue des Buttes, St John.png

Pictured: J525 is south of the school and parish hall.

Explaining the reason for the removal of the condition, a statement in the application states: “This condition relates to the previous intention that the land for St John’s School would be developed by the developer constructing the first-time buyer homes being constructed on the site.

“[The condition] prevents the occupation of the first-time-buyer houses completed on the site until the field is developed and therefore needs to be removed to facilitate the sale of the houses.”

The major application has attracted 22 public comments so far, mostly against the condition removal but some people arguing that it is important to release the houses for sale as soon as possible.

Those first-time buyers, who have to meet the Housing Gateway criteria, will be nominated by the parish.