07 August 2007
A further step towards defining and protecting Jersey’s rich archaeological heritage is being taken by Planning and Environment Minister, Senator Freddie Cohen, with the proposed designation of over 160 sites and areas of archaeological interest.
A White Paper, released by the Planning and Environment Department, sets out – for the first time - all the sites in the Island where it is considered that there exists some archaeological interest. A considerable body of work has been undertaken, on behalf of the Minister, by Jersey Heritage Trust; and over 160 sites have been identified – ranging in size from the specific location of individual standing stones to an expansive area of St Ouen’s Bay covering the remains of a Neolithic forest.
The definition of these sites is important because it will mean that when development proposals come forward which affect any of these sites, there will be a need to identify and take into account the impact of that development upon the site’s archaeological interest. In many cases, some form of archaeological evaluation – to further investigate the archaeological interest of a site - will need to be provided before a decision on a planning application is taken: this is in accord with policy approved by the States in the Island Plan in 2002.
“In many cases, archaeology is the key to understanding our past and it is important that the Island’s most important archaeological assets are given the protection they deserve.” said Senator Cohen. ”The identification and definition of the Island’s archaeological sites will help us to properly assess –from an archaeological perspective - planning applications in these areas.” he added.
“This is a long-awaited and positive step forward which will be important both for the Island’s archaeological resources and for the Island’s compliance with international conventions about safeguarding our past” said Senator Cohen. “The work to identify these sites – undertaken by the Heritage Trust, in consultation with other local authorities, such as the Societe Jersiaise’s Archaeology Section – is hugely significant as it provides us, for the first time, with a definitive record of the Island’s archaeology to which we can add as our knowledge grows.”
The Planning and Environment Department is now embarked on a process of consultation – with landowners, developers, other interest groups and the public – about the proposed designation of these sites. At the conclusion of the eight week consultation period, the response to consultation will be considered by the Minister in deciding whether or not the proposed designations are to be confirmed.
A schedule of the proposed sites and their proposed designation is available on the States of Jersey website - http://www.gov.je/. Further details about the sites – including detailed maps and descriptions of their archaeological interest - are available from Planning and Building Services, as well as the States Contact Centre, Cyril Le Marquand House, and the Library.
Contacts
Senator Freddie Cohen 07797 714550
Minister for Planning and Environment
Kevin Pilley 448441
Assistant Director, Planning and Building Services
Roger Hills 833334
Curator of Historic Buildings, Jersey Heritage Trust
Olga Finch 859857
Curator of Archaeology, Jersey Heritage Trust
Notes to Editors:
1. Policy G12 of the 2002 Island Plan requires an archaeological evaluation to be carried out for development proposals which may affect archaeological remains.
2. Background information about the policy regime for archaeology is set out in Supplementary Planning Guidance: Planning Policy Note 1 Archaeology and Planning (January 2007) which is available from Planning and Building Services at South Hill or the States website at http://www.gov.je/NR/rdonlyres/24F17467-2B53-4708-B97B-EAF8D2E27B95/0/SPGGuidanceNote1.pdf.
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