Winners of St Helier waterfront masterplanning competition named

A design team led by Gillespies has been appointed to deliver a masterplan that will transform St Helier waterfront in Jersey with 1,000 new homes, an art gallery and other facilities.

The landscape practice, working with Heta Architects, was appointed after a design competition run by the Jersey Development Company (JDC) with the Design Council.

Gillespies, which is leading on masterplanning, landscape design and public realm design, will be responsible for four of the key opportunity sites (1, 2, 3 and 7) within the area covered by the South-west St Helier Planning Framework (SWSHPF) which was adopted last year.

The proposals would address the existing disconnect between the waterfront and the town centre, said Gillespies.

By focusing on the public realm, the winning proposal aims to transform the existing waterfront with a series of open spaces and parks as well as a redesigned indoor public pool and gym, a new outdoor public 50m saltwater pool, a national art gallery, seaside amphitheatre and boardwalk pier.

The project will also provide 1,000-plus residential units with ground floor space for a gym, crèche and cafes.

Gillespies partner Stephen Richards said: “Our landscape-led proposals plan to sensitively transform the existing waterfront, into a mixed-use quarter set within a green framework of beautiful new squares, courtyards, roof terraces, green corridors and parks. The transformation of this historic site will help meet the island’s future needs, creating a vibrant and sustainable new destination for St Helier.”

The design work will culminate in an outline planning application being submitted for these areas.

JDC’s managing director Lee Henry said: “This will be a real step change for St Helier’s important waterfront.”