Field 115 & Loop Road, La Route du Nord, St. John: Go-Kart Track

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A decision made 11 July 2011 regarding:

Decision Reference: MD-PE-2011-0055

Application Number: P/2010/1467

Decision Summary Title:

Field 115 & Loop Road, La Route du Nord, St. John

Date of Decision Summary:

27 May 2011

Decision Summary Author:

Senior Planner –

J Gladwin

Decision Summary:

Public or Exempt?

(State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)

Public

Type of Report:

Oral or Written?

Oral and written

Person Giving

Oral Report:

Senior Planner –

J Gladwin

Written Report

Title:

Planning and Environment Department Report

Date of Written Report:

28 March 2011

Written Report Author:

Senior Planner –

J Gladwin

Written Report :

Public or Exempt?

(State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)

Public

Subject: Field 115 & Loop Road, La Route du Nord, St. John

Change of use and alterations to form go-kart track. Construct race control box. Erect fencing and gate. Various external alterations. EIA Submitted.

Decision(s):

Planning permission granted for a temporary period of 15 years by the Minister on 27 May 2011 following the original decision being deferred from the Ministerial Meeting of 08 April 2011 to seek further information and clarification on the site plan from the applicant. This information was subsequently provided to the satisfaction of the Minister and therefore permission was granted on 27 May 2011.

Reason(s) for Decision:

Reason for Approval: The proposed development is considered to be acceptable having considered all of the material considerations raised, including the letters of representation and consultation responses received. In particular, the development has been assessed against Policy C5 of the 2002 Island Plan, in which there is a presumption against all forms of development. In this case, however, the proposed development is considered to be in accordance with part (x) of Policy C5 in that the applicant has satisfactorily demonstrated that the proposed kart track is in the Island interest and cannot be practically located elsewhere.

Since 1994 numerous alternative sites have been explored by the applicant and rejected/discouraged by the Planning Department and/or other public bodies. The kart club have been racing at the Loop Road since 1999 on a 'temporary' basis following their previous site at Belle Vue being compulsory purchased for housing in 1994. When the Belle Vue site was compulsory purchased by the States of Jersey in 1994, the States expressed a wish to find a suitable site for the Kart Club and the Planning Department endeavoured to assist this search for a site. This previous support from the States is backed up by the high level of support for this application. Whilst it is accepted that this support is not universal and there have been a large number of objections, it is considered that the level of support and that the Kart Club has existed on the Island since 1960 (albeit with a 5 year gap after Belle Vue) demonstrates the demand for a kart track in the Island and that it is in the Island interest to have a kart track.

With regard to the representations received on the issue of noise impact, the Kart Club have operated from the current site for 12 years without major complaint and it is considered that subject to the planning conditions listed which includes a limit on the number of days and hours of operation, a temporary consent for 15 years and with further landscaping buffers and restriction on the type of engines that can be used, that the noise impact of the development on residential properties in the neighbouring area would be within acceptable limits.

It is also considered that the proposed development would not unreasonably harm the character and scenic quality of the surrounding area and would be in accordance with policies G2, G3, C4 and C5 of the Jersey Island Plan.

Resource Implications: None

Action required:

Notify Agent, Applicant and all other interested parties

Signature:

Senator F E Cohen

PLeg / PT Initials

Position:

Minister

Date Signed:

Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Field 115 & Loop Road, La Route du Nord, St. John: Go-Kart Track - Determination of Planning Application

Information about the publication of Ministerial Decisions

A decision made 11 July 2011 regarding: