No approval for hospital plans until “in depth” public inquiry

Thursday 20 July 2017

Plans for the future hospital must face a full public inquiry before they will be given the stamp of approval.

Minister for the Environment Deputy Steve Luce, who has responsibility for Planning, says that plans for the £466m build - Jersey’s largest ever capital project - will have to be scrutinised in depth to ensure it is “the right decision for Jersey.”

Under current plans, several local hotels and businesses in the Kensington Place area would have to be demolished to make way for the new development. 

If successful, the plans would see part of the old hospital reconstructed with landscaping and the addition of two half-decks of parking to Patriotic Street carpark.

Deputy Luce has now requested a public inquiry - the date of which will be set shortly - to consider the impact of the build for Jersey residents. He hopes that it will take the form of an, “…inclusive forum to ensure an open discussion, with all parties able to present their opinions.”

Pictured: Deputy Luce said that an independent inquiry would be needed to ensure that plans for the future hospital, which will involve a partial rebuild of the old site, would be consistent with policy.

An independent inspector, who is yet to be appointed, will then make a recommendation on the matter based on the evidence heard. It is unknown at this stage how long this could take, however.

So far, the process of creating a new hospital has been fraught with difficulties. After months of deliberation and scrutinisation, States members learned in late May that proposals to finance the new build would not be debated until Autumn - more than half a year following the original debate date - after a last minute U-turn from the Treasury Minister.

Nonetheless, at a recent Scrutiny hearing the States Treasurer, Richard Bell, said that a bond would be sought in the New Year if the debate does go ahead. 

If the plans are not approved, Ministers could be forced to go back to the drawing board to ensure that the new hospital is consistent with policy, placing a question mark over the final cost and potentially delaying the project further.