New Bungalows in Trinity Lead the Way

Trinity is the first of seven parishes which had land rezoned for homes for the over-55s two years ago.

Next month, 14 new bungalows for parishioners aged over 65 will be ready for their new tenants to move in.
These are retirement homes and not sheltered housing.
This development is an extension of Maison Cabot, where ten bungalows for pensioners were built in 2002.
Agricultural field 818 and part of field 873 were rezoned for the 14 new bungalows, work which started in October 2009.
The Constable, John Gallichan, said that he believed that there had been a definite need for additional rental bungalows in the parish for senior citizens.
When it came to allocating them to applicants, consideration was given to the length of time people had been on the waiting list for a home more suited to their needs, as well as their state of health and level of mobility.
The homes are rented out to pensioners, who can stay in them for as long as they are able.
There are two bedrooms, one smaller than the other, so that a relative or a nurse can stay on a short-term basis if necessary.
Mr Gallichan said: “Although the States proposition was for lifelong homes for the over-55s, there was a general feeling that this was too young, and all our applicants are over 65.”
Developed by Camerons and designed by Page Architects, the development is being funded by the parish obtaining a bank loan and the rents received will cover the borrowing fee.
“These are lovely homes”, Mr Gallichan said.

There will be another phase to this project.
Parishioner Meriel Edwards has donated an agricultural field in Trinity – No 578 – to the parish which the States also agreed to rezone at the same time.
The parish plans to build six more social rental homes for senior citicizens on that plot, along with up to 36 two- and three-bedroom homes for first-time buyers.
When the eight agricultural sites were rezoned two years ago, the States agreed that a certain percentage of homes on some of them would be for first-time buyers.
Mr Gallichan said: "It was very generous of Mrs Edward to give the parish this gift of land, for which we are very grateful.”
There are plans for the parish to borrow the money for the development so that it can go ahead and then the homes will be sold to successful applicants.
The criteria for applicants for the lifelong homes for older people and for the first-time-buyer properties is that they must have parish connections.
The first-time-buyer homes will have a roof space to give owners the option to build another bedroom if their family grows.
The Constable said that a housing estate had not been built in Trinity since Victoria Village was constructed in the 1960s.
Work on the development in Field 578 is due to begin next year, with the project going out to tender.

Mr Gallichan said that these projects would provide enough new homes for older and younger generations in the parish for the foreseeable future.
“We don’t want any more green fields in Trinity rezoned – I believe we should be all right for a number of years with the accommodation which will be available”, he said.
Mr Gallichan believes that if the ministers of Planning and Housing seek new sites to be rezoned for housing in the future it would be preferable that the proposed sites came into parish ownership before the States debated the issue.
“That way, the development remains in the parish’s control,” he said.

Jersey Evening Post - Wednesday 11th August 2010

Back..