Vale Douzaine condemns 'joke' Bridge flats application

One Bridge Avenue showing its scale compared to the existing buildings on the seafront

The Vale Douzaine has an unwritten policy of not commenting publicly on planning applications because members rarely reach a consensus in such matters. In this case, however, the proposal for an eight storey block of flats just off the Bridge has engendered a wholesale condemnation from them.

On seeing the artistic impression on the front page of the Guernsey Press on Wednesday 3rd September, one needed to check that the actual date was correct, and not April 1st.

The comments attached to the planning application contain rather a lot of jargon and political-speak which, to the majority of people, is totally meaningless. Comparing the mass and height to the power station chimneys and suchlike that do not stand on the sky line is frankly ridiculous.

Douzeniers seem to recollect that the plans submitted for Leale’s Yard had a four storeys or less limitation placed on the height of buildings along sensitive boundaries so that the Bridge frontage remained just that, with nothing rising above it.

Outside space
While Guernsey has a housing shortage, it is a known fact that people would prefer not to live in high-rise buildings and would much prefer to have some outside space. The question planners and developers need to ask, therefore, is “would I be willing to live in one of these flats?”

This application smacks of piecemeal, opportunistic, development and should await plans for Leale’s Yard to be re-drawn and approved first.

The Vale Douzaine will be sending its objections to the Planning Department, but would like to point out that its objections carry no more weight than any other single objection. People are therefore encouraged to send in their views before the closing date, which has not yet been published but is generally 21 days from the application being received. The process is as follows:

Details of One Bridge Avenue [Application Number: OP/2025/1350] can be found here and must be submitted in writing with your full name and postal address, your email address or telephone number, the Planning Application reference number and address of the application site to:

– The Office of the Development and Planning Authority, Planning Service, Sir Charles Frossard House, La Charroterie, St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1FH, or by email to

– [email protected] with the above information and any necessary attachments. Please note, if emailing, it is not necessary to provide a hard copy of your comments.

• One of the Vale Douzaine, Deputy Gary Collins, is unable to express any opinion on this because he is a member of the newly formed States Housing Committee, and he has not done so.