Approval for 13 homes, but 12 months for work to start

But the developer will have only 12 months to get work started after the planners put a tighter than usual time restriction on the scheme.

Mr B. Luce applied in the summer to build the homes on a field beside Warma on Le Pre de la Cotte off Route de Carteret.

That scheme has been granted permission, despite some objections.

It means that a mix of two- and three-bed homes can be built on the field, which backs onto La Mare de Carteret School’s playing fields.

Objections to the scheme included concerns about the density of the homes and the foul water drainage, as well as the appearance of the scheme. Castel douzaine did not raise any objections.

Normally planning permissions are granted on the condition work is started within three years. However, in this case it was limited to one year.

That was due to the unusual planning situation the project is in.

Under the current planning policy, larger sites need to have a development framework, laying out details of how a site can be developed. This includes information about what sort of development can be built and how dense it can be. Warma’s framework was was completed last year and stated that the site was suitable for between eight and 13 homes.

However, then a framework was put forward looking at combining Warma with Mycroft, a property on Route de Carteret, which backs onto the site.

It recommended that up to 23 homes could be created on the combined site. But that framework is still in its draft form and has not been signed off.

In the planning decision, it states that the combined framework was not relevant to the application.

But the planners were keen to restrict the new development in case the combined development moved forward.

‘It would be unreasonable to hold the application in abeyance until the draft Mycroft/Warma development framework has been finalised,’ the planners stated.

‘However, given the development potential of the adjoining land to the west (Mycroft) and the current preparation of a development framework for both the Warma and Mycroft sites, it is reasonable in this case to limit the period of validity of any permission granted on the Warma site to one year only, to ensure that potential comprehensive development opportunities are not prejudiced in the future in the event that development on the Warma site does not proceed in a timely manner.’

Mr Luce did not wish to comment on the granting of permission.