Concern over impact of new homes on school

A governance board has raised concerns about plans for future housing and how it could cause disruption to a Guernsey school catering for children with special needs.

A total of 85 new homes, 34 houses and 51 flats, have been recommended for approval at the Mallard Complex, a four-screen cinema near Le Rondin School in Forest.

Yvonne Hodder, chairwoman of governors for the Specialist Schools Cluster, said she had asked planners to ensure there were limits on "noise, dust pollution, vibration, sudden things that are disruptive to the children".

Developer Infinity Group was contacted by the BBC but the firm said it would comment after the conclusion of a planning meeting on Monday.

Ms Hodder said she was not opposed to development but stressed it was important the needs of children were put first.

"The children with additional needs that we work with, all of those unexpected and unusual things cause them physical and emotional distress," she said.

"As a sensitive site for children with special needs, what that requires is for the developer to put at the heart of his planning design the needs of the children... there should be protection from oversight.

"You shouldn't be able to stand in your window and look directly into areas where children are being taught, having personal therapies or where they're using facilities for self-regulation."

Plans for the complex include 69 affordable housing and 16 private market units alongside 85 allocated parking spaces within the Mallard parking area.

Ms Hodder added: "It's not something we're asking for that's exceptional.

"This would be best practice and it would be particularly relevant in a school like ours where the children can't speak for themselves, can't advocate for themselves."

Mandi Beukes, director of the Mallard complex, said she thought the proposals would "be good for business".

"I think it'll be very good for the area, Forest needs a bit of development - we haven't had any in Forest in a long time," she said.

The proposals will be considered by politicians at the meeting on 15 December at Beau Sejour.

The Development and Planning Authority and the Guernsey Housing Association were also contacted for comment.

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