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The controversial Island Plan, which backs building homes on fields and supports more quarrying in the countryside, may have dropped out of the headlines over the summer but it hasn't gone away - in fact, the next stage is about to begin.
Soon, all the issues that prompted more than 2,000 islanders to comment after it was first published will be aired in public.
The process - which is set out in law - might seem protracted and complex to some.
Here, Express explains what will happen next, when the 'Examination in Public' phase begins...
The Island Plan process – which lasts around a year and is set out in law – has moved into its second out of four stages. After the plan – which only covers three years instead of 10 because of the pandemic – was published in April, there was a period for States Members to lodge initial amendments and a 12-week period for islanders to have their say.
Pictured: The Island Plan proposes building homes on organically farmed fields in St. Helier, which has met with stiff opposition.
There were more than 2,000 public comments and 60 amendments – the most engagement for any Island Plan, regardless of the fact that it was only 'bridging' from 2022 until the next 10-year plan in 2026.
Attracting the most comments – overwhelmingly against – were proposals to support the expansion of La Gigoulande Quarry in St. Peter’s Valley into a neighbouring field, and plans to build affordable homes on fields in St. Helier and St. Saviour, particularly off St. John’s Main Road and around Five Oaks.
The final part of the first stage was the Environment Minister responding to the initial comments and amendments.
Deputy Young rejected the overwhelming majority of them, only making a few small concessions. Significantly, he dismissed calls to reject the most controversial ones, including the quarry expansion.
One of the 11 affordable housing sites – two fields by the Village Green in St. Martin – was removed from the plan, but only because the owner withdrew it from the process.
We are now at the beginning of Stage 2, which is called the ‘Examination in Public’ part. This is when a team of three planning inspectors from a UK firm called Intelligent Plans and Examinations will formally review the plan and all the representations so far.
The lead inspector is called Keith Holland, who has previously reviewed Guernsey’s Island Development Plan. He is joined by Geoff Salter and Derek Stebbing. Together, they will look at all the evidence, including reports that fed into the drafting of the plan, to test its validity.
One of their key terms of reference is to “consider whether the draft Island Plan furthers the purpose and intent of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002 and will provide for the orderly, comprehensive and sustainable development of land in a manner that best serves the interests of the community, and is otherwise considered adequate.”
The inspectors have already reviewed all the written representations, so it is now time to hear them in public.
They have drawn up a list of who they want to hear from, based on all the information they’ve read, although islanders can still make comments and request to speak at one of the public hearings, as long as they let the inspectors’ officer know by 14:00 on Tuesday.
Comments or requests to speak have to be limited to the matters that the inspectors have selected for examination. This is because the various hearings are based on themes. However, there is a final ‘open plenary session’ for matters that have not been discussed earlier.
The themes identified are:
Comments or a request to attend a hearing should be emailed to progofficer@aol.com.
Pictured: The proposed new hospital will be discussed at one of the hearings.
The hearings kick off on Monday 15 November and will all take place in the Members' Room of the Société Jersiaise on Pier Road.
The draft schedule is:
AM: Strategic matters (strategic proposals 1,2,4 and 5; strategic policies 1-7, places policies 1-5).
PM: Housing (demand and supply issues).
AM: Housing (policies H1-H9)
PM: Housing (allocated affordable housing sites, Environment Minister’s potential alternatives and States Members’ proposals).
All day: Housing (non-allocated housing sites)
AM: Natural environment (including Strategic Proposal 3)
PM: Historic environment
In reserve (in case any session overruns)
All day: The economy and general development policies
All day: Travel, emissions, utilities and strategic infrastructure (including the new hospital)
All day: Waste and minerals
AM: Open plenary session
Pictured: The public hearings will take place in the Members' Room of the Société Jersiaise.
It is a long and varied list but includes politicians, interest groups (including the National Trust, St. Brelade’s Bay Association, the Jersey Farmers Union, residents’ groups, Jersey Construction Council, the RJA&HS, Friends of Our New Hospital and the Chamber of Commerce); businesses (including developers and quarry operators), and members of the public (listed as ‘interested persons’).
Once the ‘Examination in Public’ hearings end, the bridging Island Plan moves to Stage 3.
The inspectors will publish their report in early 2022, and then States Members have another opportunity to amend the plan. The Environment Minister will then present his own revisions in light of the consultation, inspectors’ report and politicians’ amendments.
The final stage – Stage 4 – will involve States Members debating the plan and adopting it, as amended, if they agree to change it.
This will take place next March, and the plan will then guide planning policy until the end of 2025.
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