New Planning Guidance Issued

04 August 2023

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The Minister for the Environment, Deputy Jonathan Renouf, has issued a bundle of new Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG), helping to deliver more, and affordable, homes in the Island while seeking to ensure new developments support and enhance the character of their area.

The guidance, which will be used for planning decisions with immediate effect, has been published on gov.je and covers the following areas:

• Density standards
• Housing development outside the built-up area
• St Helier design guidance
• Landscape and seascape character guidance
• Making more homes affordable
  

The adoption of the SPG introduces policy guidance relating to the development of larger homes, where they are bigger than 279 square metres or 3,000 square feet. It also gives effect to Policy H6 of the bridging Island Plan, which requires at least 15% of new homes on development schemes of 50 properties or more to be available for assisted purchase.

Deputy Jonathan Renouf said: "The publication of this package of new planning guidance continues the important work of delivering homes, making more homes affordable, and making sure that the Island is a better place to live, work and visit.

"We need to be making the best use of land, and the adoption of guidance setting minimum density standards for built-up areas will help to achieve this. The bridging Island Plan introduced greater flexibility in the creation of new homes in the countryside, through the extension and sub-division of existing properties, and we've set out how this policy will be interpreted and applied.

"I'm pleased to be able to issue the guidance on bridging Island Plan Policy H6, which mandates at least 15% of new homes on large development schemes are available for assisted purchase. This policy and guidance will make more homes affordable and has been developed jointly with the Minister for Housing and Communities.

"The new St Helier design guidance and landscape and seascape character guidance objectively analyses and describes the Island's characteristics and provides guidance as to how its quality, character and identity can be protected and enhanced. These are key pieces of guidance for designers and decision-makers to help ensure that planning decisions deliver development that contributes to better places throughout Jersey."