Planning inspectors appointed for Island Plan

08 April 2021

Independent planning inspectors have been appointed to carry out an Examination in Public of the draft bridging Island Plan. This is a legal requirement for delivering the Plan.

Following a tender process, UK company, ‘Intelligent Plans and Examinations Ltd’, were awarded the contract. They have appointed the following inspectors:

Lead Inspector – Keith Holland BA (Hons) Dip TP MRTPI ARICS
Assistant Principal Inspector - Geoff Salter BA MRTPI
Assistant Senior Inspector - Derek Stebbing BA (Hons) DipEP MRTPI

Lead Inspector, Keith Holland, has previously conducted a review of the Guernsey Island Development Plan.

The Minister for the Environment, Deputy John Young, will lodge the draft bridging Island Plan during the week of 19 April. This will trigger a 12-week public consultation period, during which States Members will consider the Plan and propose amendments. These amendments will also be considered by the independent inspectors as part of the Examination in Public.

As the programme to deliver the bridging Island Plan has been compressed, the planning inspectors have been appointed early to provide enough preparation time before the formal examination, which is due to start in the summer. The inspectors are now familiarising themselves with the background to the Plan, by reviewing the reports that have informed its development.

Deputy Young will submit the draft Plan, its evidence base, his initial response to the consultation findings, and States Members’ proposed amendments to the inspectors, after the consultation has ended. The formal examination will then begin. This phase will allow those who have already made representations on the draft Plan to make their case to the inspectors before public hearings later this year.

Once the examination is completed, the inspectors will submit a report to the Minister for the Environment. This report will be published, then States Members can propose further amendments in light of the inspectors’ recommendations.

The bridging Island Plan will be debated by the States Assembly in spring 2022.