Guernsey Press

Departments 'seriously flawed' in dealing with Manor Hotel planning bid

A SCATHING attack has been launched on two States departments over their 'seriously flawed' handling of a planning application to convert the former Manor Hotel into a care home.

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An independent planning tribunal has condemned Environment and Commerce and Employment for a series of failings, which saw planning officers fail to make a decision after six months.

Permission for the conversion has now been granted to the applicants, Guernsey Building Developments Ltd, after it lodged an appeal against the non-determination of the application.

The appeals panel's damning verdict, from presiding member Stuart Fell, concluded:

n Environment failed to be 'open and transparent' by not communicating key consultation documents.

n Both departments failed to recognise quickly enough their inadequate level of skills or expertise.

n Commerce and Employment failed to address detailed submissions in a 'meaningful or constructive' manner.

n There was a lack of interaction between the departments and a poor handling of previous cases involving hotels.

'The tribunal's conclusion is that the handling of this application by both the departments was seriously flawed,' said Mr Fell.

In a joint statement with Commmerce and Employment, Environmment stressed that planning officers never refused the plans.

It was possible if the appeal has not been lodged that the plans would have been approved anway, it said.

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