Have your say on the future of our harbours

A local planning brief is being drawn up, and feedback from islanders will help shape what that document will look like.

Four scenarios have been drawn, with a fifth option for no change also available. They look at a variety of options, including moving ports to Longue Hougue to clear that pier for other activities, pedestrianising the St Peter Port Quay and having decks for parking.

A consistent idea is creating a bridge from Le Crocq to Northside, allowing the Bridge area to be pedestrianised. These options will be used to help inform the local planning brief, which is set to be published this summer.

Public drop-ins are being held tomorrow and Saturday, and people can also comment online.

Development & Planning Authority president Victoria Oliver said the brief would provide important information to develop the harbours.

‘Local planning briefs provide an exciting opportunity to use joined-up thinking to bring forward development in areas along our seafront which has not been possible in recent years,’ she said.

‘This exercise is a fantastic opportunity for the public to have their say on how they would like to see the harbours and surrounding areas enhanced over the coming years, unlocking the potential for significant development in these important areas.’

Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design were appointed by the DPA to prepare the brief and has been engaging with key stakeholders, which has revealed a number of core issues and opportunities for further consideration.

Tibbalds director Hilary Satchwell said they were keen to test their initial ideas with stakeholders and the community.

‘The two Harbour Action Areas in St Peter Port and St Sampson’s are really important to the way Guernsey functions and we want to make sure that the local planning brief reflects and responds to how they are used now and how they need to be used in the future,’ she said.

‘Our team have spent the last few months understanding what is important about them and now we want to get wider feedback on our early stage ideas for how the local planning brief could support positive change and growth in the future.’

She hoped a broad range of people would come along to the consultation events to have their say about what they value now about the two harbours as well as what they think the local planning brief should include.

Action plans

The ideas are available to view at www.guernseyharbouractionareas.com, as well as at the two drop-in sessions.

The first one will take place tomorrow from 1pm to 6pm in the Market Building. The second one is on Saturday from 10am to 2pm at the Rock Community Church, St Sampson’s.

The closing date for responses to this consultation is 12 April. This feedback will help to shape a draft local planning brief.

The draft local planning brief will be published for public consultation in July 2024, prior to being submitted to a public inquiry undertaken by an independent planning inspector. If approved by the States Assembly in early 2025, the local planning brief will set planning policy for the Harbour Action Areas and will coordinate development to maximise the potential of these areas to deliver multiple economic, social and environmental objectives to benefit islanders.