21 July 2017
The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, has decided to hold a public inquiry to consider the application for a new hospital for Jersey.
The application (PP/2017/0990), which has been accepted by the Minister without owner approvals, is to demolish Stafford Hotel, Revere Hotel, 33-40 and 44 Kensington Place, including Sutherland Court, and parts of the General Hospital. This would allow a new hospital to be built with landscaping, highways and infrastructure works, including the addition of two half-decks of parking to Patriotic Street car park.
Deputy Luce has made a decision to hold a public inquiry because the hospital application is for a significant piece of public infrastructure and an inquiry provides a structured opportunity to explore the planning issues in depth, to ensure that it is consistent with policy and is the right decision for Jersey.
By law, the Department for the Environment has to follow a set planning process to make sure that it provides a fair and consistent service to Jersey. This process includes considering all planning applications – whether they come from individuals, companies or other States departments – in the same fair and consistent way, looking at all the relevant issues.
The inquiry date will be set shortly, and an independent inspector will be appointed. The Minister wants the inquiry to be an inclusive forum, to ensure an open discussion, with all parties able to present their opinions and have evidence tested before the inspector makes a recommendation.
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