Conservation Areas framework published

26 September 2022

​The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Jonathan Renouf, has published an updated framework for Conservation Areas in Jersey, setting out the basis for introducing the new areas, the proposed criteria for identifying and assessing them, and the proposed process for formally designating them. 

Alongside the framework, the Minister has also released the post-consultation report, summarising the feedback given by Islanders about the draft framework. 

The consultation, which ran in March and April this year, found:

• 88% of respondents supported the idea of Conservation Areas for Jersey
• 84% supported the proposed process for the designation of Conservation Areas
• •Most respondents, 60%,  thought St Helier should not be prioritised for Conservation Area designations 

Written responses were received from Jersey Heritage, the National Trust for Jersey, the Société Jersiaise and the Land Resource Management team. 

Conservation Areas are places of special architectural or historic interest, where they are deserving of careful management to protect and improve their character. Changes to the Planning and Building Law were made at the end of the last term of government, giving the Minister for the Environment the legal power to designate such areas.

Deputy Jonathan Renouf said: “My thanks go to those who fed into the consultation earlier this year and have helped us to shape the updated framework. Having reviewed the consultation responses, work is now underway to develop the secondary legislation that will allow us to designate the first Conservation Area and then manage change within it.

“Up until this point we have been able to protect specific buildings and places, but these updates to the law will mean we can better protect whole areas of architectural or historic interest. It’s about enhancing the distinctive character of local areas, ensuring careful consideration is given to the design of any new building schemes there, and helping to ensure they are places that Islanders are proud of. The published framework will guide our work, and my ambition is for the first Conservation Area to be assigned in 2023.” 

The bridging Island Plan states that the first Conservation Areas should be drawn from the following list: St Aubin, the historic areas of St Helier, the areas around the parish churches of Grouville, St Lawrence, St Martin, Trinity, St Ouen, St Peter, St Clement, Gorey Village and Pier, and Rozel Harbour.