'Flawed' Island Development Plan needs review, says Constable
Thu 21 Mar 2019
Details of a strongly-worded letter to the Development and Planning Authority over deficiencies in Guernsey's Island Development Plan have been released by the Senior Constable in response to planning frameworks being approved that could see 160 new homes built in the North.
'It is only now that people are realising the effect that this plan is having on themselves and their localities,' he wrote to DPA president Deputy John Gollop.
'Also, since its inception the States themselves have lowered the total number of new builds that they think the island should be producing to sustain a healthy housing stock. The plan should be revised (something the States has the power to do) to reflect this lower number of dwellings.'
The February letter, available in full below, was a response to a request for comment on the IDP and Constable Richard Leale decided to release it given the reaction (see Guernsey Press headline above) to the frameworks approving large-scale building in the parish.
A major concern was the density of properties and the Environment Committee decision to reduce car parking at new residential sites, which forced vehicles on to the roads.
'It appears to us as a douzaine that insufficient notice has been taken regarding traffic flows when granting permission for high density building in narrow roads,' said Mr Leale – comments made before the latest development frameworks were revealed.
The new permissions have created widespread concern inside the parish and Vale deputy Mary Lowe was outspoken: 'I find it unbelievable that permission has been given for development at Le Maresquet (pictured above) site bearing in mind all the issues with the power station.'
Mr Leale clarified that the Le Maresquet site was not referred to in his letter to the DPA because the Douzaine was under the impression – the same as parish Deputy Laurie Queripel – that the area was no longer an ongoing site for development.