The Les Ormes Holiday Village scheme was approved on 24/8/2007 comprising of 24 self-catering units (P/2007/0991). In accordance with Schedule 1(11)(1) of the Planning and Building (Environmental Impact) (Jersey) Order 2006 the application for the development of a holiday village in a rural location exceeding 0.5ha in site area required an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be prepared. The current proposal is to extend Les Ormes Holiday Village for a further 3 self-catering units. In accordance with Article 2(3) of the Planning and Building (Environmental Impact) (Jersey) Order 2006, a change or extension to a prescribed development is also prescribed. Therefore the extension for 3 self-catering units also requires an EIA to be prepared. However, Article 2(4) of the of the Planning and Building (Environmental Impact) (Jersey) Order 2006 states that development mentioned in Article 2(3) is not prescribed if the Minister is satisfied that by virtue of factors such as nature, size or location it would be unlikely, if carried out, to have a significant effect on the environment, either of Jersey or elsewhere. The applicant has requested that the Minister reconsider the need for an EIA under Article 2(4) and has submitted a report in favour of their case. This report has been circulated to the Environment Division and Health Protection for their advice on whether the development would be likely to have a significant effect on the environment. The advice from the Environment Division and the Health Protection is that the extension for a further 3 self-catering units is unlikely to have a significant impact on the environment. Both consultees have concerns over the proposal but these can be addressed through planning process without the requirement of an EIA. In considering whether the proposed development is likely to have a significant effect on the environment, Article 2(4) requires an assessment of factors such as nature, size and location. In terms of the nature of the development, the proposal is for an extension to a large Holiday Village already comprising of self-catering units, tennis centre, gym, hair salon, swimming pool and restaurant facilities. The nature of the proposed use for self-catering is already established on this site, and thus the extension for the same use will not significant impact on the environment or has a significant land use implication. It is therefore considered that the nature of the proposed development, being an extension of the existing use, will not significantly impact on the environment. In terms of the size, the Les Ormes Holiday Village scheme for 24 units was 1.5ha in area, whereas this extension for 3 units is 0.065ha in area, representing a 4.3% increase on the already approved site area. This increase in area is a minor extension to the already approved scheme and in light of the minor size of the proposal, it is considered unlikely to significantly impact on the environment. In terms of location, the proposed extension for 3 units is located to the south of the previous Les Ormes scheme for 24 units. The proposed extension is located on existing built land, rather than green field, that is, the site for the 3 units will require the demolition of an existing garage and greenhouse. The proposed extension site is also surrounded by existing built land, being a road and the Les Ormes Holiday Village to the north, a car park and store to the west and farm buildings to the east. Although the entire site of the Les Ormes Holiday Village is within a rural location, the extension site is located on existing built land and surrounded by built land, therefore, is considered unlikely to significantly impact on the environment. For the reasons given above and in light of the consultee advice, it is recommended that an EIA is not required in accordance with Article 2(4) of the Planning and Building (Environmental Impact) (Jersey) Order 2006. |