Monday 02 June 2014
Environment Department response to media enquiry
Guernsey Press Enquiry:
As I mentioned over the phone, I had a few follow-up questions for Environment regarding the delay in publishing the draft new Island Development Plan.
Could the department explain the reasons behind its publication being delayed from the spring to September?
Is it anything to do with the changes to the political board?
Does this delay the other stages in the process, for example the planning enquiry?
If so, how?
Is the department still confident that the plan will return to the States for final approval within the current term? Could it give an indication when this might be?
Could you come back to me later this afternoon?
Environment Response:
Could the department explain the reasons behind its publication being delayed from the spring to September?
The Environment Department commenced the Plan Review in 2012 and an estimate for the publication of the draft Island Development Plan was spring 2014. This date was an estimate only, based on the information available to the Department at the time and the Department was clear that timescales were liable to change as the project progressed. The Plan Review is a very complex process involving many different but interconnected work streams and has included a significant amount of public consultation within the process. The Island Development Plan will be a very detailed, technical and comprehensive document and the policies in it must be able to respond to current and emerging land use issues over its ten year lifetime. The revised estimate for publication of the draft plan has been made taking all of these points into consideration and based on the quantity of work which has already been undertaken and what remains to be carried out.
Is it anything to do with the changes to the political board?
The recent change to the political board has not resulted in the revised publication estimate.
Does this delay the other stages in the process, for example the planning enquiry? If so, how?
The Policy Council is programming a Planning Inquiry including liaising with a Planning Inspector and support staff to determining when best to commence the inquiry process but the Environment Department's timetable has not delayed this process.
Is the department still confident that the plan will return to the States for final approval within the current term? Could it give an indication when this might be?
The Environment Department is still looking to ensure the replacement Plan is adopted by the States in this political term.
Contact Information:
Jim Rowles, Director of Planning
Environment Department
Tel: 01481 717 200
