Planning inspector asked to decide if he should review Overdale demolition

Wednesday 09 February 2022

The planning inspector reviewing the new hospital plans will decide if the demolition of existing buildings at Overdale should form part of his inquiry.

The latest chapter in the long-running saga of Jersey’s new hospital ended in uncertainty last week when the Planning Committee – a group of politicians who decide on more significant applications – rejected an application to demolish the 20 buildings currently standing at Overdale.

This was primarily because they felt it went against the current Island Plan – which dissuades demolition before a replacement has been approved, and does not support the knocking down of buildings in good working condition.

The application "put the cart before the horse", they said.

However, in response, the Government said the refusal was a minor setback as demolition was inherent in the main application to build the hospital anyway, which is being assessed at the inquiry.

Pictured: The Our Hospital project team argue that demolition is inherent in its main application for the new hospital.

This was challenged by critics of the Our Hospital project, who argued that such a significant issue – the clearance of the entire Overdale site, including at least three functional buildings – could not simply be bolted on to another application.

The principal application which Philip Staddon, who has been appointed to run the independent review, will assess does state: “Demolish existing buildings, not covered by P/2021/1398”, which was the application rejected by the Committee last week.

Now, Planning and the applicant, officially the head of Infrastructure, Housing and Environment, Andy Scaite, have written a joint letter to Mr Staddon asking for clarity.

Environment Minister John Young, who will ultimately decide on the main application, said: “The detailed plans and submissions in the main application clearly show the buildings will be demolished; however, the description of the application is unhelpful, therefore a letter has been sent to the planning inspector asking to clarify that point.

“We expect the inspector to cover this at the pre-inquiry meeting of 18 February. If he decides the description needs adjusting, it can be done within the inquiry – it’s his call. There is a need of clarification, so we have asked Mr Staddon for it.”

The inquiry is due to begin on Monday 4 April and will last a week. 

Those wishing to make a submission beforehand have until Sunday 27 February to send their ‘Proof of Evidence’ to the inquiry’s programme officer, Helen Wilson, by emailing helen@programmeofficers.co.uk.