‘Trends show north will not be overdeveloped’
ST PETER PORT, Vale and St Sampson’s are not likely to be overdeveloped in future if current trends continue, States members were told yesterday.
But despite the assurances of Development & Planning Authority president John Gollop, many members were concerned about plans for hundreds of houses to be built over the coming years, particularly in the north of the island.
In his annual statement
on the work of the DPA, he referred to the authority being ‘dragged into unwarranted controversy’ over various issues, in particular fears of the density of new developments.
‘In terms of the number of additional homes actually built in St Sampson’s/Vale over the last five years, between mid-2013 and mid-2018, this was 58 compared with 136 in St Peter Port over the same period,’ said Deputy Gollop.
‘Neither figure suggests that either centre is, or is likely to be, overdeveloped if these trends continue.’
He also referred to fears from people about future developments’ impact on traffic junctions and roads infrastructure, but said that this was considered.
‘The cumulative effect on local infrastructure is considered for larger applications and alterations recommended by Traffic and Highways if it is within the ambit of the application or development framework.’
In response to concerns from members about future developments in the north, he said that to the best of his recollection some 800 homes were being proposed for St Sampson’s and the Vale, but of those about 400 were for the Leale’s Yard site alone.
He said that based on past experience at least half of homes approved were never built.
Speaking on a personal basis, replying to a question from Deputy Peter Roffey about the development of brownfield sites rather than greenfield, he said that it would be in the island’s best interest if the States collectively looked at Leale’s Yard, a brownfield area, as an urban redevelopment growth/regeneration area and gave it a complete makeover for residential, environmental, habitat, community, accommodation ‘and maybe some commercial development’.
‘I would like to see that. I would like to see a new town up there,’ he said.
