Plans for homes at Grantez rejected

Friday 08 July 2016

Controversial plans to knock down a number of large greenhouses in rural St Ouen and build houses have been knocked back by the Environment Minister.

A company chaired by former Chief Minister Frank Walker wanted to demolish a cluster of glasshouses in Grantez, which overlooks St Ouen’s Bay, and is close to where the National Trust holds its Sunset Concerts, and replace it with 13 homes.

Many residents in St Ouen said they were vehemently opposed to the scheme when they found out about it last year, arguing that it would destroy a quiet corner of Jersey.

Among the objectors was Stephen Le Quesne (pictured), who lives close to the greenhouse, said the developers had grossly underestimated the amount of traffic that the site will generate and that the States should be supporting farming rather than allowing houses to be built on perfectly good land.

Mr Walker is non-executive Chairman of Jersey Choice, which also trades as Jersey Plants Direct. The business exports plants and shrubs to the UK and has used the glasshouses for a number of years but had been facing financial ruin after the removal of a tax loophole that allowed goods imported into the UK to avoid VAT.

Deputy Steve Luce called for a public inquiry back in May because the application was not in line with the States-approved Island Plan and brought over Independent Inspector Philip Staddon.

Mr Staddon reported back that the planning application should be refused on three grounds:

• That building eleven homes on this remote headland site conflicts with Island Plan policies to concentrate development in the built-up area.
• That the development conflicts with the policy to establish a high level of protection from development of the Green Zone and specifically excludes the redevelopment of glasshouses.
• And that the applicant's 'enabling or linked development' case is not accepted, as the proposal fails to meet the required criteria of the policy.

Deputy Luce said: “I am grateful to Mr Staddon for agreeing to hold this inquiry and for his excellent report, which so clearly distills the issues in this complex case. In particular, I am grateful for his incisive comments relating to the ‘enabling or linked’ development policy.

"It is clear from this that any development which might be proposed, contrary to Green Zone policy, should be limited to the funding of the agricultural industry investment alone. The paying down of company debt is not a sufficient reason to override the Island’s strategic and Green Zone policies."