Due to the departure of two experienced members of the Planning Division’s Development Control team, the Environment Department wishes to advise of changes to arrangements for obtaining pre-application planning advice over the next two to three months, until replacement staff have been recruited and are established in post. During this time, the availability of meetings with Planning Officers will be limited. Where appropriate, advice may instead be provided by telephone or in writing.
Useful information and advice about the planning process can also be accessed on the Planning and Building section of the States of Guernsey Website at www.gov.gg/planning. Guidance is available on a range of topics including planning exemptions, making a planning application, dower units, protected trees, conservation areas, protected buildings, sites for industry, signs and advertisements, domestic wind turbines and air source heat pumps.
The team’s resources are being directed to the processing of planning applications as its top priority, to ensure that planning applications are not delayed and that the Department’s established targets for speed of decision making within 8 and 13 weeks continue to be met.
The Department continues to encourage pre-application discussion to assist the application process and is arranging to hold an advice surgery in the near future at which Planning and Building Control officers will be available to discuss householder development proposals at a time and place convenient for most Islanders.
Further information regarding the date and location of the forthcoming advice surgery will be publicised shortly.