DPA looks set to be given more time over IDP review

The responses to the review – which will have a big impact on how land is developed in Guernsey – were meant to already be written, but the DPA this week requested more time.

Planning inspector Keith Holland said had not objected to the DPA’s request.

‘In principle, I am content to agree to a delay,’ he said.

But even though the authority had not finished its analysis of the comments, Mr Holland said he would like them published soon.

Once the responses are published, people will have a chance to respond to them, but not to bring up any new issues.

‘Notwithstanding the proposed delay, I consider the initial representations should now be made publicly available alongside the placing of a notice in the Gazette to inform all those with an interest in the process of the latest position,’ he said.

He expected this to happen next week.

There were criticisms during the initial consultation that the public did not have enough time to comment, but the deadline for submissions was not moved.

Deputy Yvonne Burford was one of those concerned about the original deadline, and had said that people would not have time to absorb all the information before the 29 July deadline.

But she supported the committee looking for more time to review the representations.

‘It is vital that we get this right,’ she said yesterday.

‘However, I am disappointed that more time was not afforded to members of the community for them to submit their responses.’

Paul Nobes from developer Infinity Group also accepted that the DPA needed more time and he hoped this would allow for more consultation with industry.

‘We believe that the numbers of available sites submitted to the DPA were massively inaccurate,’ he said.

He did not blame the DPA for the issues.

‘It’s the figures that were given to the planners,’ he said.

He was concerned that the review might not be finished in this political term if there was too long a delay.

Policy & Resources committee vice-president Heidi Soulsby was another politician who had wanted a longer consultation.

‘I think it’s a clear case of “more haste, less speed”,’ she said.

She was not surprised that the DPA had asked for more time.

‘It was inevitable given how they’ve gone about the process and the lack of reasoning behind some of the proposals, in particular the selection of greenfield sites for development,’ she said.

‘From attending the drop-in session put on by St Martin’s Douzaine, as well as emails and other comments received, I know there will be many people who will be frustrated by this decision, as the deadline was tight and method of making representations far from simple.’

At the end of the first consultation period there were 276 submissions, the DPA said, which contained more than 500 individual representations from islanders, States committees, businesses, industry and third sector.

The DPA has yet not confirmed how much more time it is asking for yet.

The consultation process will be followed by public hearings, which are expected to take place in October.