DPA is put on spot over Les Blanches rejection
POLITICIANS representing the Development & Planning Authority were quizzed yesterday over the committee’s vote to reject two applications made by developers looking to build new homes at Les Blanches, St Martin’s.
The applications, made by Island Development Ltd, have been rejected twice, firstly by the then Environment Department and more recently by the DPA, both at open planning meetings.
Day one of a two-day appeal hearing against both rejections saw tribunal chairman Stuart Fell quizzing both parties closely about the applications and how the various policies of the Rural Area Plan were applied when they were considered.
Mr Fell said that the hearing would focus on the evidence, facts and material that was before the DPA/Environment when it made its decisions.
He said that although since the time when the second application was considered the Island Development Plan had been adopted, ‘the tribunal cannot give any weight to these changes’.
The appeals were thus going to be considered based on the Rural Area Plan, which was in place at the time.
The hearing is expected to conclude today.
Full story in today's Guernsey Press
