Wednesday 16 October 2013
Media enquiry from Helen Devonshire, Guernsey Press:
We had a few questions regarding planning applications that are submitted after open planning meetings are held.
We followed the story of the development at Quatrieme, Les Mares Pellees Road, Vale. The plans were to build nine houses and the matter went to an open planning meeting. However since then another application has been submitted to build two more houses and to alter the parking layout.
- What level of development is necessary for a re-application to need to go back to an open planning meeting? Could you provide examples of when the threshold is crossed? E.g more houses in a development, another storey in a development?
- Does the department feel there a danger the public perception of open planning meetings diminishes, if a new planning application is put in and ruled on by planners after the site has gone to an open planning meeting?
- Will this new application then go on to an open planning meeting?
Environment Department response:
Most planning applications received by the Department are processed and determined by planning officers under the Board's approved scheme of delegation. Typically, more than 95% of applications are determined under delegated authority. However, in cases which fall outside the delegated powers conferred by this scheme the applications are referred to the political Board of the Department for determination.
Each planning application is considered on its individual planning merits having regard to the purposes of the Planning Law, adopted States Planning Policy and all other material planning considerations as specified in the Planning legislation.
In the case of an application for alterations or additions to a scheme which has previously been considered by the political Board of the Department at an open planning meeting, where that particular application falls within the delegated powers conferred by the approved scheme of delegation then the application will be processed and determined by planning officers under the scheme of delegation.
Application FULL/2013/2641 was received on 11/09/2013 and it is too early in the process for this particular application to confirm whether or not it will be determined under delegated authority.
ENDS
