Appointment of Planning Department Architect

29 May 2007

As part of the Minister for Planning and Environment’s wish to restructure the planning system around ‘good design’ the department has created a new post of Department Architect.

The position was advertised locally and an appointment has now been made. The successful candidate is Mrs. Sara Marsh, a qualified and experienced architect and a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Mrs Marsh has four years experience of working within the department as a Development Control officer at a senior level. Previously she worked in private practice on a number of award winning design projects.

Mrs. Marsh will now take a leading role in the implementation of the Minister’s design agenda throughout the planning process. The purpose of the new role is to work with the design profession, agents, developers and the wider community to promote the Minister’s approach to design and to enhance the quality of development on the island.

The Department Architect will be responsible for injecting ‘good design’ principles into the planning process and for coordinating and providing design advice on specific applications. She will play a key part in the delivery of the new Design Guide designed to provide a clear design steer to applicants and will lead the Department’s Design Review Group. She will also coordinate and advise on design training and skills development for professional staff within the Department.

It is hoped the appointment of a Department Architect will significantly reduce design uncertainty within the process. Whilst applications will always be subject to the political process through the Planning Application Panel, or Ministerial determination, the appointment of a Department Architect will give the applicant greater certainty as design standard requirements required by the department will be articulated to design professionals in the Island.

Senator Freddie Cohen said ‘The appointment of a Department Architect is a key to delivering my design agenda and it will help to encourage better new buildings in Jersey. The appointment will provide an added service to applicants, our fee paying customers. This appointment has the potential to speed up the decision making process and clear design advice can reduce the applicants own professional fees by avoiding abortive design work’.