Vote approves sale of former residential home St Helier House in Jersey

The sale of the former residential home St Helier House to private developers has been approved by parishioners.

A vote took place on Wednesday evening at the Town Hall with 48 people backing the sale and 43 voting against. But an amendment to the proposition was carried forward meaning the parish will now have to negotiate a betterment fee with the developer. That would be a share of the profits from future sales after development.

The developer is said to be a local firm which aims to refurbish the building next to People's Park and provide homes to people from the area.

During the evening a second vote was also held on the future of Westmount Nursery, next to St Helier House, in which parishioners voted unanimously to find an alternative location as soon as possible to ensure jobs are secured and there is minimal affect on the nursery children.

St Helier House was closed in 2017 after it was found to have the same cladding as Grenfell Tower in London.

Senator Sam Mézec said he was "deeply concerned" about what might happen to the home after the company bidding to refurbish it had not made its plans for the building public until now.

He also said he was worried that the buyer will fill the building with lots of tiny flats and then sell them on for "extortionate rates."

St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft says he is hoping to set up a scheme to allow parishioners to see what the developers plan to do with the building.