Long awaited plans for the island’s new £710 million acute Hospital at Overdale have finally been given the green light — following years of delays, debate, and public scrutiny.
The Planning Committee this afternoon unanimously granted permission for the construction of Jersey’s new acute health facility this afternoon following a nearly all-day meeting in the government offices at Union Street.
All seven States Members taking part in today’s discussion voted to support the recommendation made by officers.
The approved application encompasses the main hospital building, parking, external plant and landscaping, along with demolition of existing structures and new pedestrian and cycle access routes.
The decision comes after planning officers earlier this week recommended that the application be approved – with a series of conditions attached.
In the report presented to the group of politicians who make up the committee, senior planning officer Chris Jones said: “The scheme has been carefully assessed against all relevant policy criteria and found to be in compliance with both policy CI3 [covering community infrastructure] and the Bridging Island Plan as a whole, given the exceptional circumstances that the Island finds itself in and the need to provide a significant, island-wide public benefit.”
Mr Jones highlighted comments made by an independent inspector during a 2022 public inquiry into a previous application for Overdale that was halted by politicians following the general election later that year, describing the site as “an appropriate sustainable location”.
Environment Minister Steve Luce subsequently ruled in November last year that there was no need for a public inquiry into the current application.
Benefits listed in the report include an increase in biodiversity and an active travel route through woodland that would provide a “significant public benefit”.
In conclusion, ahead of a list of 33 conditions recommended for inclusion in a planning obligation agreement, Mr Jones stated: “The design and appearance of the new hospital has been the subject of significant discussion and scrutiny in order to arrive at the scheme now under consideration.
“This is considered to be the best option for the site and the land that is available and will provide a development of high quality to the benefit of the island as a whole.”
The major application attracted just 15 letters from members of the public, a significantly lower volume of correspondence than previous attempts dating back more than a decade.
Pressure group Friends of Our New Hospital wrote to the Planning Department, stating that it was “in the main in favour of the application as a more viable and versatile solution for the island’s healthcare and more in line with planning guidelines”.
However the group also expressed concern over a lack of detail in some areas and what it considered to be a greater focus on the external appearance of the building rather than interior details that would improve the patient experience.
At the time the current application was submitted last September, Health Minister Tom Binet said he was “cautiously hopeful” that the new complex would open by the end of 2028 and believed there was a strong public view in favour of proceeding with the project after years of delay.
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