A “time consuming and protracted” planning dispute between two neighbouring St Brelade households has finally found a solution… more plants.
Planning Minister Senator Mark Boleat has allowed an appeal concerning works at La Hougue View on La Route du Petit Port – but, rather than overturning permission for the development, an independent inspector helped the neighbours reach a compromise.
The case concerned revised plans for the property, which included a pergola and extended terrace, changes to garden levels, an acoustic fence, alterations to a previously approved garage, the lowering of a jacuzzi and fire-pit area and the construction of a plant room.
Planning permission was granted in April, subject to conditions including the installation of an acoustic fence along the northern boundary and controls requiring machinery to operate below background noise levels.
But a neighbour, whose family occupies the adjoining property Tramonto, decided to appeal the decision.
By the time an independent planning inspector visited the site and the appeal hearing took place on 14 July, the dispute had narrowed to two key outstanding privacy concerns: whether the acoustic fence alone would be adequate to protect the family’s privacy, and whether that fence would be overbearing.
Finding some common ground
However, discussions during the hearing resulted in a compromise.
The owner of La Hougue View agreed to carry out additional “screen planting” along part of the northern boundary, while the neighbour would also be able to introduce planting within his own property to “soften the appearance” of the fence.
Independent planning inspector David Hainsworth welcomed the agreement.
“I am pleased to endorse this solution to what has been a time-consuming and protracted matter,” he wrote in a report on the case presented to the
He recommended that the appeal be allowed, but that an additional condition be attached to the existing planning permission.
Under that condition, a full scheme for the new screening must be submitted to the Planning Department “within one month”.
It won’t simply be a case of planting a few shrubs, however – the inspector recommended that the plans specify the ” quantity, size, species, positions and density of all the plants, details of how they will be planted and protected and the proposed time of planting, together with a schedule of plant maintenance including provision for replacement planting should the plants fail to become established”.
Assistant Minister backs compromise
Senator Boleat accepted now accepted the inspector’s recommendation and, in a ministerial decision signed on Tuesday, formally allowed the appeal.
The additional condition is intended “to safeguard the privacy” of the neighbours in accordance with the Island Plan.
The original permission for La Hougue View dates back to 2021 and covered the construction of a single-storey garage, covered barbecue area, fire pit and sunroom, with the latest application seeking revisions to those plans.
