'All it does is add extra costs': Islanders call for changes to Jersey's complicated planning system

  • ITV Channel reporter Emma Volney speaks to the people arguing that Jersey's planning system is too costly and time-consuming

People in Jersey are calling for the planning system to be simplified, saying that the amount of red tape involved is preventing essential progress from being made.

For planning permission to be granted on the island, people must complete a series of checks - such as archeological surveys, nature surveys, and land surveys - and obtain a consensus from a wide range of experts.

They say this system creates unnecessary bureaucracy and incurs costs that can stall development.

Islanders argue the system prevents housing developments, charity projects, and even larger-scale plans such as the new hospital. Credit: ITV Channel

Builders argue that restrictions particularly jeopardise the development of vital affordable housing projects.

Ben Cairney, a construction firm director, says that whilst access to planning officers has improved in recent years, the system itself is still failing.

He says: "The problem is the amount of red tape you've got to work your way through before, during, and after you get planning permission.

"Time is money. When you're trying to build an affordable housing project, and things are taking a lot longer than they should even after you've got planning permission, the cost of that ultimately affects the cost of housing.

"One of the biggest driving factors of the cost to build a unit of housing is the financial costs associated with the planning system."

Despite receiving planning permission for this affordable housing site in August, Ben's company is still not allowed to start building.

Charity representatives are also speaking about the burden of costs created by the system.

Andrew Lewis, chairman of the St Helier Youth and Community Trust, says too much of his charity's funds are spent on fees associated with seeking planning permission.

He says: "What [the department] is not doing is asking whether they actually need all of the planning policies and regulations and considering which ones they could do without.

"When it comes to the third sector, all it does is add extra costs."

Whilst charities are given a discount on planning fees, additional costs are incurred when they must pay people - such as surveyors, architects, and landscape architects - to complete the necessary forms for an application.

Andrew's charity recently spent money on land and nature surveys when trying to obtain permission to put up a fence for a community garden. Credit: ITV Channel

Constable Philip le Sueur, of Jersey's Planning Committee, says the 'complicated' planning process is a necessary evil due to Jersey's size.

He says: "It's easy to criticise the system, but we live in a small island with finite land resources, and planning is particularly important so we keep control of developments."

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