Draft planning brief aims to prepare harbours for the future

The draft local planning brief does not contain specific proposals for any changes, but Development & Planning Authority president Victoria Oliver said it was designed to give applicants and planners guidance on what might be acceptable.

However, its hundreds of pages of appendices do contain the odd surprise, such as how during the consultation phase the extent of parking in St Peter Port was not seen as an important priority by members of the public.

Another section talks about the future space requirements at the harbour, particularly with Guernsey Ports saying it needed more facilities along with Sark Shipping, Condor and the Herm and Alderney ticket offices.

While some parking spaces have in the past been taken over by ports temporarily, Deputy Oliver said that there were other reports that will ensure that parking cannot be reduced.

‘You’ve got the strategy for nature, you’ve got energy and decarbonisation,’ she said.

‘Within one of those documents, it says that you have to have a certain amount of parking.’

The LPB reflects this, but also refers to the possibility of improving cycle and pedestrian areas.

‘This document can’t control how parking works, because this is not this document’s job, but it can facilitate it. We had people telling us that they can’t park in town to use the shops in the way they want to, because the way the parking hours work is an issue.

‘So it’s more facilitating if there are better ways of doing things so the harbours can support town better.’

Maps of parking in both St Sampson’s and St Peter Port are printed in one of the appendices, showing how heavily utilised the long-term spaces were in both areas. In particular the Odeon and Castle Emplacement were found to be about 90% full or more during consultation work.

The DPA is now inviting islanders to give their views on the document, which will conclude with a public hearing in early December.

Given the importance of the harbours to island life, Deputy Oliver said it was important that the policies struck the right balance between protecting what makes them unique while also providing opportunities for investment.

The report includes 11 case studies, including Fishbourne in the Isle of Wight and how it improved the efficiencies and emissions of its harbour passenger terminal, and how Roscoff Harbour in France balanced marine-related activities such as commercial ferry operations, a protected marina, a fishing trade and a town centre.

Other areas looked at include ‘living breakwaters’ at Staten Island, New York, the flood defences at Shoreham, a water’s edge cycle pater at Limone sul Garda in Italy and outdoor facilities in Sydney.

There is also a reminder of plans for a future harbour, put forward in 2019 – either at Longue Hougue or off the eastern arm of St Peter Port – and the report states that any proposed development in the harbour action areas must make sure that this will not be affected.

• The draft local planning brief is available to view and comment on at www.gov.gg/LocalPlanningBrief and copies are available at constables’ offices and douzaine rooms, the Greffe and reception at Edward T Wheadon House during normal office hours (8.45am to 4pm Monday to Friday at Edward T Wheadon House).

• Any queries about the LPB should be sent to: planning.inquiries@gov.gg