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Moving out of town: Does Jersey need a new village?

By James McLachlan

With the population predicted to rise over the next twenty-five years, is it time to look at new ways to house everyone?

The subject of Jersey’s population provokes strong opinions from almost everyone.

For some, the Chief Minister included, the island can take another ten thousand or so.

Others believe we're already full to the rafters, and any more new arrivals would have locals jumping off the end of Gorey pier in a desperate bid for personal space.

According to the States Strategic Plan, Jersey’s elderly population will outnumber people of working age by 2035.

The report pointed out the need to boost the number of working people 2-3000 by 2035 to support the ageing population.

But, with the population increasing incrementally by around 450 people each year, questions have been raised as to where to house the new people.

At the moment, the States plan to provide affordable housing by concentrating development in St Helier.

But one possibility yet to be discussed seriously is the possibility of a new village outside of town.

Eco Housing

New Village

President of the Jersey Architects’ Association, Mike Waddington, agrees that regentrifying St Helier is the right move, but warns it may not solve the problem of family housing.

Mike Waddington said: “There are some rundown parts of St Helier that badly need regenerating.

"But it is fair to say that most of this redevelopment will focus on apartment-type projects.

“I don’t see St Helier solving the family home crisis that is looming. People with children need gardens and family homes.”

Mike Waddington believes the concept of a new village needs to be looked at if problems are to be avoided in the next twenty to thirty years.

Sustainable showcase

Currently, Jersey is on the cusp of introducing bye-laws to ensure new buildings meet carbon emissions targets.

This will mean all new buildings would have to prove their green credentials to get planning approval.

Mike Waddington suggests a new village could be a chance to push sustainable design to the forefront of Jersey’s future.

He said: “There is a limit to what you can do with a handful of houses, but if you are talking about a small village, then serious large-scale sustainable opportunities present themselves.”

“Given our finite resources there is absolutely no reason at all that Jersey should not be an exemplar sustainable island.”

Too small

Environmental campaigner Nick Palmer feels many environmentalists and architects share common goals regarding sustainability.

Nick Palmer

However, he remains convinced that Jersey is simply not big enough for large-scale proposals.

Nick Palmer said: “Eco-villages have worked in places on the continent, but we don’t have enough space in Jersey to look at large-scale further development.

“The problem is existing buildings. We should be looking into replacing run-down areas with eco-communities.”

Either way, a new village idea is unlikely to take root anytime soon.

Environment and Planning minister, Senator Freddie Cohen, has ruled out any future development in Greenfield zones.

Senator Cohen said: “It is good to have all these ideas in the melting pot, and any proposals will be looked at in the upcoming island plan review.

“But I think the chances of a new village in Jersey anytime during the next ten years will be zero.

Have your say

What do you think? Is a new village a good idea? Do you think we have enough building in Jersey already, or would you welcome the idea of taking development away from St Helier?

last updated: 25/02/2009 at 09:35
created: 11/02/2009

Have Your Say

Jersey4ever
Why not make a town at St Catherine's?

Scott Mills
Captain Fantastic I have to inform you that the steam clock (cost circa £3 mill? now runs on electricity. That's Jersey for you! A World class instrument which using other forms of energy to power itself!

dave
this is easy, just have a proper census then hey presto the 10,000 are already here problem solved!

Sid the Cynic
Yes, lets have a new village and perhaps Guy de Faye or Mike Vibert can apply for the job of village idiot? After all, the Council of Ministers all have several other jobs as well so let the old guard have a go!

z
I think we should make a new village for old farts and stick them somewhere where they won’t complain. One giant retirement village.We always complain about too many people on the island but what the hell, until the states finally implement a immigration policy then we will always have overcrowding. Want more land? Extend the waterfront or build skyscrapers. There are simple resolutions to these problems but people are to concerned about the beauty of the island etc etc…Until you get forward thinking states members showing the opinions of the working men/woman than we will still be controlled by a states that is inherently voted in and only benefits the old in the island. And with the population of 60+ increasing I don’t see it ever happening.

Manx Bean
I find it incredibly sad and disappointing that the grass roots basic needs of the people are being ignored, still. Whilst it is of some benefit to be environmentally aware, it is not everything. Whilst the reality is that genuinely affordable housing (by that I mean you don't have to subject yourself to a life of debt and poverty to afford a mortgage)simply isn't available - and hasn't been since I made the decision to leave my 'home land' 20 years ago, this is all pointless frothy rhetoric.

Jersey!
Lower the age of the states members by 25 years before any decision is made. Its the younger generations future

Bobby
When will people on this Island learn?If the States want 10000 more people then thats what we WILL get. There will be no thought put into where they will live or work and no public consultation.You are all wasting your breath and time.

Paulo Onechop
I think that looking at the 'eco home' on the news last night makes me want a Spectrum apartment that bit more.....

show case
Captain Fantastic is correct blame the architects for the waterfront, that will be the UK architects they used not the local guys we have here. Eco village great idea, perhaps the states owned Jersey Electric will start giving credits for solar power put back into the grid equal that to the rest of Europe. No chance !

Rodders
Allan: a lot of the immigrant who reach pensionable age leave the island, partly bcos they have property abroad,the weather is warmer and the cost of living lower; all this enables them to have a pretty decent standard of living back home.

Allan
So we want to expand the population to pay for an increasing proportion of pensioners. What happens when the extra immigrants get to pensionable age? How do we pay for them?

L. Rushton
I agree with NCP's comment. Why not work on an island transportation system to alleviate the traffic going into St. Helier. Why does Jersey need 10,000 more people, please don't make the mistake many places make of taking all of the natural environment away and giving in to a concrete jungle.

Andrew
Guernsey

Flash
Ashley F : yeah, there are two village idiots! I sometimes see their inebriated antics in the parks!

Marko
We want an extra 10,000 residents in Jersey why?

Court
There's enough village jesters already on the island, they normally act their funnies in or near to the royal square

Ashley F
If I grow a beard can I become an environmental campaigner with an opinion too?

Brands
This is cause for concern - islanders need green spaces, and I can't really ow or where they would find viable space for an extra 10,000 souls. The only way to achieve it without ruining the island further would be take reclaim land from the sea and build flats as they do in Monaco.However, even the above idea would have its detractors who feel there are already too many people on the island.

Captain Fantastic
We had the land on the watefront sadly those who deemed a steam clock a neccessity put a take-away ,cinema, and an iconic hotel of national acclaim! on it. Blame it on the architects I say if the actually did their job rather than passed the buck we might have had a better looking Island.

NCP
why not get rid off all the private owned car parks, ie Gas Place. The island could benefit from a good travel infrastructure. There is no need to have all people who work in town arrive by car. Why doesn't the States help subsidise Work Coaches, which pick people up and drop them off at or near work. Offices/firms who have building next to each other could share the costs and resources. Minimum effect maximum results i believe. Communication is the key

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