DPA ‘shot themselves in the foot’ with Pointues Rocques

The news followed within 24 hours of the rejection of planning permission for 68 homes at nearby Pointues Rocques at an open planning meeting, following concerns about housing density and traffic in the area.

Pointues Rocques architect and PF+A director Peter Falla said the DPA had ‘shot themselves in the foot’ in rejecting the application.

The architects have been working with the applicants for two years, which has cost almost £1m. in planning costs.

An extra fee of £35,000 will be incurred if the applicant wishes to take the decision to tribunal.

‘The landowners have been absolutely battered,’ Mr Falla said.

‘In order for a process to be fair you look for consistency and you look for compliance with policies, and we have real concerns that this [open] planning meeting was flawed in certain areas.’

The meeting saw the DPA political board go against the professional planners’ recommendations and reject the project.

Meanwhile, GHA chief executive Steve Williams confirmed it was moving forward with a Belgrave Vinery application.

An application for a mix of flats and houses on the northern half of the site is being prepared, even though the site could well be subject to similar traffic and infrastructure objections as its near-neighbour.

‘We are planning to make an application by the end of October,’ he confirmed.

If approved, the homes there could be ready for occupation by needy islanders by the end of 2023.

Some 16 of the proposed homes were allocated for the GHA affordable housing under States land use policies.

There are currently 500 people on GHA waiting lists – 300 for rental and 200 for partial ownership.

Further reaction to Pointues Rocques rejection, page 2