Minister's comments on p33/2008

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A decision made (25.03.08) for the Minister to comment on p33/2008, rezoning of sites in the Green and Countryside Zones.

Decision Reference: MD-PE-2008-0076
Decision Summary Title:	Response to P/33/2008		Date of Decision Summary:	18 March 2008
Decision Summary Author:	Peter Thorne – Director of Planning		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title:	P/33/2008 – Rezoning of Sites in the Green and Countryside Zones and Island Plan Review.		Date of Written Report:	11 March 2008
Written Report Author:	Senator F E Cohen – Minister for Planning and Environment		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Rezoning of sites in the Green and Countryside Zones and the Island Plan Review – Response from Senator F E Cohen to P/33/2008 lodged au Greffe on 26th February 2008 by Deputy Carolyn Labey
Decision(s): The Minister for Planning and Environment agreed to present the attached comments on proposition P/33/2008 lodged au Greffe by Deputy Carolyn Labey on 26 February 2008
Reason(s) for Decision: To advise the States of his views on the matter
Resource Implications: None
Action required: The Greffier be asked to arrange for the comments to be presented to the States as soon as possible
Signature:		Position: Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Minister's comments on p33/2008

P/33/2008 – Rezoning of Sites in the Green and Countryside Zones and Island Plan Review.

Lodged au Greffe on 26 February 2008 by the Deputy of Grouville

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Comments of the Minister for Planning and Environment

Part (a) of the proposition

Land supply

It is important that States Members are aware, at the outset, of the position regarding the supply of land for first-time buyer and social rented housing (Category A housing).

The sites zoned for such homes under policy H2 of the 2002 Island Plan are virtually built-out. There is currently an application for 26 homes at Fields 190, 191 and 192, La Moye, and there is one other site at Rue du Haut, St Lawrence which has a potential for 14 dwellings. All of the other H2 sites are complete or significantly advanced in their construction

Under the existing Island Plan at policies H3 and H4, there are 23 sites identified, but not zoned, for future consideration or safeguarded for Category A housing. Additionally, under policy H4, there are 14 sites safeguarded for Category A housing which were previously identified in the 1987 Island Plan and which are predominantly in the built-up area, but have not come forward for development, in many cases because their existing use is more valuable to the owners.

A new Island Plan is being prepared, but the timetable outlined in the Report to this proposition is now out of date. Rescheduling has been required so as to be able to incorporate important material which must be reflected in the green paper (such as the most recent housing needs survey). The revised timetable is as follows:

Strategic Options Green Paper released for consultation - July 2008

Draft Plan White Paper released for consultation - January 2009

Publish Amended Draft Plan White Paper - June 2009

Examination in Public - July 2009

Lodge Report and Proposition - Late 2009

States Debate - Early 2010

It is most unlikely, given normal lead-in times, that any homes will be available for occupation on sites zoned in the new Island Plan until late 2011/early 2012 – some 4 years away. This is one of the main reasons why the consultation on retirement and first time buyer homes was undertaken in December to February, with a view to an interim rezoning, to enable the continuity of provision of homes in these categories while the Island Plan is being reviewed.

The effect of part (a) of the proposition will ensure that no new homes are forthcoming on zoned land until the new Island Plan is adopted, and for that reason I cannot support it.

Demand for Housing

There is an immediate demand for retirement and first-time buyer homes, as described in the Department’s white paper “Review of the Island Plan to Rezone Land for Life-long Retirement Dwellings for the Over-55s and First Time Buyer Homes”. A more exact quantification of this need will be derived from the results of the 2007 Housing Needs Survey when published by the Statistics Unit in April, and it is not intended to lodge the retirement/first-time buyer homes proposition until that underpinning evidence is available.

Arguably, it may be better to defer Deputy Labey’s proposition from the 1st April Order Paper until those results are available, so that States Members can have a better informed debate.

Part (b) of the proposition

If part (a) is adopted, any further zoning proposals will only be brought forward as part of the Island Plan process. However, in order to bring forward a draft Island Plan it will be necessary for the Minister for Planning and Environment to make specific proposals which implicitly will be an “indication of support” for individual sites.

Part (c) of the proposition

This has no direct implications for Planning and Environment, save to say that it will be for developers to decide to whom they sell their properties within the categories for which the land is zoned.

Part (d) of the proposition

(i) The Minister is already giving high priority to the Island Plan Review but has to balance a desire to complete the job quickly with the requirement to fully consult with Islanders and to and respond to their views, in a way that is of sufficient quality and robustness to withstand rigorous external examination.

(ii) It is already the intention to publish for consultation a Strategic Options Green Paper in July; and

(iii) It is already the intention to consider a policy framework for the glasshouse industry, which may see some sites come into development for housing or other purposes and some sites restored.

Part (e) of the proposition

It is intended that the principle of achieving an element of affordable housing as part of developments over a particular size will be addressed as part of the Island Plan Review, and will be brought forward if it is considered to be an appropriate mechanism for delivering affordable housing in Jersey.

Senator F E Cohen

Minister for Planning and Environment