PC Channel Islands

Developing Le Squez

the Le Squez social housing-  St Clement

Work on the latest phase of the Le Squez social housing regeneration project has reached completion.

1-20 Les Burons, 1-29 Les Burons Court and 1-11 Les Anquetils – formerly known as Le Squez Phases 2a & 2b – took place on part of the old Le Squez Estate, at Samares, in St Clement. Work began on the project in July 2010 and reached completion in May 2012.

The £9.4 million project was funded by The States of Jersey Housing Department with support provided by the States Treasury who made available some Fiscal Stimulus Funding to help support the local construction industry.

60 new build apartments and houses have been constructed. The homes were built to replace aging units at Le Squez and also to increase the number of houses on the site.

A C Mauger & Son Limited was the main contractor on the project, whilst Dyson & Buesnel (Chartered Architects) Limited provided all architectural services. They were supported by a design team including quantity surveyors Tillyard, engineers Beaumont Structural Consultants and M&E consultants from Jersey Property Holdings.

The new homes comprise a mix of two and three-bedroom houses, along with a three-storey block of flats containing one and two-bedroom units. The buildings which were built from brick and block incorporate EPS insulation with a coloured render finish.

All of the homes were designed to meet BREEAM standards and incorporate high levels of insulation and triple glazing. A ‘whole house’ ventilation system was also included within each property.

All of the homes have been designed and built to minimise environmental impact on the surrounding area and take into consideration carbon dioxide emissions, waste generation and water usage. The triple glazing and ventilation system helps to prevent deterioration of the properties caused by the build up of condensation.

As the site is located within an existing residential area – with a primary school located close by – alterations were made to the main road whilst work took place. Additional alterations to an existing bus route were also made to temporarily facilitate the development.

A SUDS hard landscaping system was adopted for most of the external areas of the site, whilst a small amount of landscaping also took place.

the Le Squez social housing-  St Clement

Deputy Andrew Green MBE, Minister for Housing, said:

“The continued delivery of the master plan for the regeneration of the former Le Squez estate is an important aspect of the Department’s programme to bring all its 4,500 homes up to standard.

“Following a significant period of underinvestment, we are at last having the resources available to improve and redevelop existing homes. My proposals for the incorporation of the Department into a wholly States owned Housing Association will provide the basis for the financing of future phases of this development and many others.”

Deputy Andrew Green MBE added:

“Developing affordable homes is all about the people and there can be little more rewarding than seeing families moving into the new homes which they deserve. It is particularly pleasing that the vast majority of the tenants now occupying these new homes were existing residents elsewhere on the estate. The site is being regenerated in a phased manner and this provides the opportunity for the community to stay together.”

The site of the new homes formerly accommodated two three-storey blocks of rental homes, with a number of three-bedroom houses and a low rise block of flats. The structures were demolished in 2009 ahead of construction work on the new buildings which formed the first phase of the project.

Previous phases of development have provided a mix of houses and apartments, some of which were made available for sale to tenants as a means of providing funding for the project.

The new homes have been designed to exclude small alleys and dark corners, to promote easy access for residents and safe pedestrian routes.

All of the houses on the scheme are helping to provide a much needed boost to the Housing Department’s social rented housing stock.

Now that work is complete, an additional phase is planned which will see an additional 24 units constructed on adjacent land. This project will be tendered this summer and work will commence later in 2012.

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