• A reimagined waterfront park with a relocated slipway, new Elizabeth Castle ferry facilities, large central lawn, a park run loop, play hub & outdoor lido

• New cultural and commercial plazas, creating a vibrant area and varied experience along La Route de la Libération

• An open multi-functional plaza on the waterfront with groves of trees, an interactive water feature and restaurant/café spill-out

• A new Cultural Plaza connecting the esplanade through to the waterfront - a wind sheltered environment offering flexible public space for events, art and cultural ground floor offers and a space for the community to be creative

• A laneway connects the Leisure Zone and Les Jardins De La Mer, the laneway is a vibrant pedestrian route with artwork and places to sit

• Quick pedestrian connections are provided between Rue de L’etau and the laneway through a series of arcades and tertiary street connections

• The framework includes a combination of linear blocks, C-shaped blocks and singular blocks. These have been formed through rigorous design testing of wind and solar conditions and key connections through the site

• Single phased crossing points are provided on La Route de la Libération

• Improvements to La Route De La Liberation to reduce speed and provide improvements to the pedestrian and cycling experience

• The proposals fit within the aspirations and key principles set out in St Helier Public Realm Movement Strategy

• The development is planned to be predominantly vehicular free. Servicing vehicle access will be organised from Radisson roundabout onto the secondary lanes and back to Rue de L’etau

• Public transport connections are envisaged along Rue de L’etau with a hopper bus service

• The existing slipway for the Amphibious Ferry to Elizabeth Castle is suggested to be in-filled and the new one will be integrated within the extended coastal edge to the west

• Le Petite Train route connecting to wider Jersey attractions will be incorporated into public realm, the exact route is to be confirmed

• The key driver for the movement and connectivity strategy is to provide a safe and attractive environment for all and to facilitate easy access to St Helier’s new waterfront area. Convenient connections are provided to and from the site area with priority focus on pedestrians and cyclists

• The framework seeks to enhance existing journeys, reinforce the existing town connection to the waterfront and sensitively integrate La Route de la Libération within the proposals

• This includes providing 3 safe and attractive crossings across La Route de la Liberation, stitching together the two distinct areas to create one comprehensive green network for pedestrians and cyclists

• This will connect with the wider network of pedestrian-friendly routes and assets in St Helier. The road itself will also become safer and more aesthetically pleasing through a series of landscape interventions. This includes planting and introducing new surface materials and traffic calming solutions

• La Route de la Liberation (A1) is heavily used throughout the day and is a significant physical barrier limiting safe pedestrian movement between the harbour area and town centre as well as disrupting the natural permeability. Restoring and enhancing connectivity between the waterfront and the historic town centre will be essential for successful future development

• Overall, the scheme promotes high-quality public realm and a safe environment. The major pedestrian and cycling routes will be along the Boulevard and the Waterfront promenade. A dedicated cycle route is suggested along la Route de la Libération to ensure a faster cycle connection

• Shared cycling routes will be provided along the waterfront and Jardins de La Mer as well as on a new connection from the Esplanade to the Waterfront through St Helier and Waterfront Plazas

• St Helier’s waterfront will be transformed into a vibrant, energetic community area anchored by new destinations. The site will be subdivided into several character areas largely based on the predominant land use and architectural strategies applied

• Unique architectural, public realm and landscape design, varied density distribution and street topologies will shape distinct identities for each of the following character areas:

Character Area 1: Mixed-use

This Mixed-Use area will become a central hub within the new waterfront community. It will be an inviting place with a multifunctional town plaza at its heart surrounded by cafés, craft shops, maker spaces and community facilities with new homes above.

Character Area 2: Residential

The Residential Quarter will form a quieter and more tranquil part of the development. It will comprise residential blocks with green courtyards connected by a pedestrian lane from Jardins de La Mer to the new Leisure Zone in the southern end of the development.

Character Area 3: Leisure Zone

This area will include a landmark building with the swimming pool, gym and ‘Kids Zone’ facilities replacing Aquasplash and residential units on the upper floors. The new leisure facilities will work in synergy with the redeveloped Waterfront Gardens.

Character Area 4: Gateway

This parcel located on Key Opportunity Site 1 on the northern side of La Route de la Libération in line with the SPG requirements will accommodate a special gateway building bookmarking the ‘entrance’ to St Helier with community and arts uses on the ground floor.

Character Area 5: Commercial Quarter

This area will be comprised of two high quality office blocks, new additions to the IFC.

• Six ground floor open space typologies are created; each with social infrastructure, heritage interpretation and recreational facilities. In addition to these spaces, the framework includes a network of streets

• The spaces vary from active civic spaces designed for multiple activities, communal gathering, circulation, to large areas of open lawn for relaxed passive animation, to quieter spaces for individuals and smaller groups to gather, interact, garden or relax

• The mix of ground floor land uses has been carefully crafted to serve the needs of the new residents of Southwest St Helier as well as the existing wider community and visitors.

• The Waterfront will become a new destination offering a wide range of activities. Food and beverage, retail and leisure facilities are clustered around the key public spaces; arts & culture uses frame the new St Helier Plaza. Social infrastructure and community facilities are located along the Rue de l’Etau spine

• The masterplan provides a wide range of sports and leisure facilities: 2 gyms, a lido, a training swimming pool, Kids Zone, roller/ ice rink/ indoor skate/ bouldering centre

• Building heights and overall massing will respect the existing historic town centre and existing building typologies through careful distribution of density and maximising of spatial efficiencies. The two distinct areas will blend harmoniously as one

• Overall the building heights will be capped at a maximum of 8 storeys

• KOS1 will accommodate an elegant 12 storeys building bookmarking the gateway to Southwest St Helier

1. New castle ticket kiosk and cafe
2. Proposed new slipway
3. West park gateway with garden rooms, outdoor picnic seating and opportunity for shade canopies
4. Extended promenade to the west of the German bunker
5. Interpretation of German casemate
6. Bus stop and new bus priority lane
7. Two-way cycleway
8. Accessible footpath
9. Mounding and amphitheatre seating
10. Children’s park play hub
11. Flexible flush lawn space (130% increase in existing lawn.

12. Pool kiosk, cafe and toilet amenities
13. 25m long, 4 lane Lido
14. 10m wide waterfront promenade
15. Existing revetment retained
16. Flexible waterfront plaza with tree grove, water feature and public art
17. St Helier Plaza – a sheltered plaza for art & culture.
18. A new kiosk allows for animation of the plaza and access to the basement public cycle hub
19. Commercial plaza
20. Pedestrian crossings
21. Cycle crossings
22. ‘Slow Zone’ road treatment

23. Planted central median
24. Pedestrian lane
25. Pedestrian arcades
26. Public pocket plaza
27. Hopper bus drop off
28. Private communal gardens
29. Waterfront Gardens play hub with cafe and amenity kiosk
30. Residents amenity podium garden
31. Pedestrian connection to Trenton Square
32. Landscape interface to Trenton Square
33. Bus gate
34. Extension of Esplanade cycleway
35. Pocket park integrated with existing heritage wall

Traffic Study: La Route de la Libération

La Route de la Libération, known as Key Opportunity Site 7, is an integral part of the plan given the importance of improving connectivity as set out in the SPG. It serves the main east/ west route across the Island together with the Port and Town Centre.

A comprehensive traffic study has been undertaken
to review the layout of La Route de la Libération and the underpass to assess if there are ways to address the severance the road currently creates.

The study confirms that without a shift towards sustainable transport modes and significant reduction in the Island’s traffic volumes (>30%), the current provision of six lanes and underpass would need to be retained. In addition, the Island’s economic performance is reliant on a safe and efficient transport network through this area, particularly from the Port.

How can we improve La Route de la Libération?

The current concept includes interventions to address the severance and is in line with SPG guidelines, by:

• Providing a new single phase pedestrian and cycle crossing between the Gloucester Street and Castle Street junctions;

• Significantly improving pedestrian and cycle crossings at the Gloucester Street and Castle Street junctions;

• Supporting the network of new crossings with improved walking and cycle routes - fully segregated where possible;

• Incorporating bus lanes/bus gates to further promote sustainable travel;

• Greening and softening of the road infrastructure with the inclusion of tree lined streets, verges and central median;

• Reducing speeds through the pedestrian zones and

• Designing the infrastructure on a human scale.

The proposals will be designed to ensure that they do not prejudice the long-term possibility of improving La Route de la Libération, or potentially downgrading it to four lanes, should there be fundamental change in travel habits.

It is however felt the disruption of implementing a major intervention to downgrade La Route de la Libération would be detrimental to the Island economically and is therefore not supported by the Government of Jersey and confirms the view of the public expressed during design charettes on the planning framework during 2019.

A summary of the transport study can be downloaded here.

The decisions we take now need to ensure we can facilitate future change in social, economic and environmental demands.

Economic Study: Market Demand Analysis

The team looked at the island’s population growth, child yields and wider demographic trends, including tourism and commercial related trends, and projections and the evolving nature of the St Helier economic base to set out a market demand analysis for the development area.

This has guided us on the volume and type of non- residential uses (ground floor commercial and community uses) needed to make the area a success without impacting on the Town Centre’s viability.

The team has been mindful of consultation feedback to create a destination Waterfront that contains a mix of ground floor uses as well as the need to balance the uses. So they complement and reinforce other town centre functions, rather than detract from them.

A summary of the Market Demand Analysis can be downloaded here.

Providing New Housing

The draft Bridging Island Plan identifies the need
for 4,000 new homes to the end of 2025. The 2019 Objective Assessment of Housing Needs calculated that based on an annual increase of 1,000 in population, 7,000 new homes would be needed by the end of 2030.

The Waterfront has a key role to play in delivering
new homes in an urban setting, in close proximity to amenities and places of work thereby reducing pressure on green-field development and reducing additional vehicle congestion during the am/pm peak hours.

The number of new homes and building heights

To meet housing need we are proposing approximately 1,000 new homes. All homes will have private amenity space such as a balcony or terrace area.

The built form proposed varies in height and the concept sketches give an indication of the approach. This includes between 6 - 8 storeys along La Route de la Libération. Along Rue de L’Etau the massing height reduces to 5 - 8 floors. Two new office developments proposed on KOS 1 follow the principle set by the IFC buildings and are proposed at no more than 6 floors.

In accordance with the policies outlined in the SPG document, a town gateway residential building is proposed of up to 12 storeys that will sit adjacent to the office developments.

The approach to height maximises the level of green space and access to sunlight, particularly in relation to the new landscaped areas and courtyards. Detailed solar analysis has been undertaken to inform the approach, increasing height at points where sunlight will not be affected.