12 January 2016
The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, has called for a public inquiry into a planning application to build new homes on La Rue de Grantez, St Ouen, before he decides whether development should go ahead.
Planning application (P/2015/1860) was submitted to the department in December 2015 and seeks permission to demolish glasshouses in fields on La Rue de Grantez, St Ouen, construct 11 homes with associated landscaping and vehicular access, and change the use of fields from agriculture to natural green space.
Island Plan
Deputy Luce said that he has decided to call for a public inquiry because the application seeks to depart from the States approved Island Plan. The Spatial Strategy which underpins the 2011 Plan (Policy SP1) asserts that new development will be concentrated within the Island’s Built up Area, in particular the Town of St. Helier.
The Planning and Building Law requires that, when the Minister is satisfied that a development would depart from the Island Plan, and where that departure is not insubstantial, the Minister will order a Public Inquiry. The purpose of an Inquiry is to bring the application to public attention and to provide a transparent process for people to give their views.
Deputy Luce said “The development of this site will be of interest to many islanders, not only those living in St Ouen. The public inquiry will offer the public the opportunity to express their opinions and to provide me with a sound basis on which to form a decision.”
An independent inspector will be appointed to run the public inquiry and an online platform will be created for managing correspondence. Details of this and a date for the Inquiry hearing will be released in due course.
Details of the planning application P/2015/1860 can be found on the planning register on this website.
View the planning register
gov.je