Developers Dandara are behind a scheme to replace the building that bounds Peter Street and Hilary Street with a mix of one- and two-bedroom flats over four floors but with a reduced footprint.
Although the plans did not include any parking spaces, as is required by a planning standard dating back to 1988, the department recommended that when the Planning Committee met on Thursday they should, nonetheless, grant permission.
The department report said: ‘The scheme meets all of the required policy tests with the exception of on-site parking spaces, hence the decision to revert this to the committee.
‘While the existing building has no parking, and conversion would not require any, a new build of this size should provide 50 parking spaces to comply with current standards.
‘This shortfall concerns the parish, but Growth, Housing and Environment’s Transport Department support this more sustainable approach.’
Deputies Graham Truscott, Jeremy Maçon and Rowland Huelin and Constable Philip Le Sueur all said they would not give their views on the scheme until the new requirements for parking provision were drawn up.
However, Constable Deidre Mezbourian voted in favour of the proposals.
Committee member Deputy Scott Wickenden did not take part in the deliberation as a panel members, as the site is in his constituency, but he spoke against the application as a respondent.
He told the panel: ‘There is the potential to have 174 people living there but with no parking spaces and I don’t think that is an acceptable way to go.’
