Planning Controls Relaxed

07 June 2007

The Minister for Planning and Environment, Senator Freddie Cohen, has made a new Order*, the effect of which is to increase the threshold of works that can be undertaken without the need for planning permission.

Senator Cohen said:

“Generally these wider exemptions will lift the burden of regulation for many Islanders. Most importantly by exempting solar panels I have begun the process of encouraging Islanders to move towards renewable energy sources, thus reducing Jersey’s CO2 emissions.”

The Minister also wishes to relax requirements for the installation of wind turbines in the near future. A number of technical issues relating to wind turbines in relation to aviation in the Island have been raised during consultations, and discussions continue to resolve these. He has however waived any planning fees for wind turbine applications.

The new Order replaces the 2006 Order of the same name. The changes made include the following items:

1. An increase in the size of permitted extensions and conservatories to houses from 20m² to 25m², and up to 3.5m in height for a pitched roof building, 2.5m in height for a flat roof building or 2m within 60cm of the property boundary;
2. Permission is now only required to replace windows, on Registered Buildings and other buildings constructed before 1920;
3. Solar panels (for heating water or photovoltaic cells) no longer require permission provided they do not exceed 50% of the plane of a sloping roof and are not Registered Buildings. However, there are restrictions on the installation of photovoltaic panels in a specified area on the Airport approaches where reflections may be a hazard to pilots;
4. Temporary timber buildings for livestock up to 25m² in area and 3.5m high are now permitted on agricultural land. They must be at least 30m away from residential property and 15m from a road;
5. Non-commercial sand schools up to 800m² are permitted by bona-fide agriculturalists;
6. Post and rail fences up to 1.2m high are permitted on agricultural land;
7. The Order allows greater freedom to change the use of premises between different classes of use without the need for planning permission. Previously, it was necessary to apply to change a use from one class to another. For example, where previously it was necessary to make an application to change the use of an office building to a social use, such as an art gallery or community centre, or to a medical or welfare use, such as a health centre, it is no longer necessary to do so.

Additional terms and conditions apply to these exemptions, in some cases.