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Focus on property


With a falling household size, a growing population and high house prices, the provision of new homes, and especially affordable homes, will always be a critical challenge for the planning system in Jersey.


The States has given clear direction in meeting this challenge and, in response, the Draft Plan sets out a strategy to deliver 4,000 new homes over the Plan period whilst establishing a new policy mechanism to deliver more affordable homes by requiring the private sector to provide a proportion of affordable housing as part of new residential development. It is acknowledged that this is a new approach to the delivery of affordable homes in Jersey which is complemented by proposals to rezone a number of former glasshouse sites, on the edge of built-up areas, to provide housing that contributes towards this social need.


A more sustainable future Climate change is probably the greatest long-term challenge facing the world today and addressing it is a principal concern for sustainable development: Jersey has a responsibility and a role to play in this.


Significantly, the Draft Island Plan sets out a clear spatial strategy for the


location of new development in the Island over the next 10 years that seeks to deliver a socially and environmentally sustainable pattern of development. In essence, it seeks to focus new development activity in the Island’s existing built-up areas with a particular emphasis on the regeneration of St Helier, which is identified as playing a key role in delivering the Island’s housing needs.


To ensure that we use our limited land resources wisely, the Draft Island Plan sets out a clear statement to develop land at higher densities whilst seeking to ensure that we require high standards of design to protect the private amenity of existing and new residents. This is not, however, at the expense of the quality of the environment and the Draft Island Plan sets out a range of policies to ensure a high quality of design and the protection and provision of open space.


Whilst work continues on developing a new energy policy for the Island, the Draft Island Plan recognises the potential emergence of proposals for the development of energy from sustainable sources over the Plan period. It sets out a series of polices to enable any new proposals for wind or


tidal power to be tested.


Protecting the environment In an island of only 45 square miles there will always be a tension between meeting development needs and protecting the environment.


The Draft Island Plan recognises this and integrates objective assessments of the qualities of the Island’s rural and urban landscapes into new policies for assessing new development proposals.


This has lead to the development of proposals to designate a Coastal National Park for Jersey, based on the Island’s most visually sensitive landscapes, including St Ouen’s Bay; cliffs and headlands, north coast valleys and Jersey’s offshore reefs. Similarly, the Green Zone has been redefined to cover much of the Island’s agricultural interior and inland valleys.


The Plan also seeks to define a Marine Zone embracing all of the Island’s territorial waters.


In all of these zones there is a general presumption against new development, except where a coastal or countryside location for new development can be justified.


There are also a number of exceptions to this general presumption which recognises that there is a whole host of existing land uses and buildings in the National Park and Green Zone where it would be unreasonable to prohibit future development that is appropriate in scale and character.


The Draft Island Plan also seeks to protect the Island’s rich biodiversity and historic environment and includes proposals for the designation of wildlife corridors and Conservation Areas.


The preparation of the new plan has been the most open process ever undertaken in Jersey involving the engagement of hundreds of Islanders and, most significantly, enabling them to appear before independent planning inspectors at an examination in public. The Minister will consider any recommendations made by the inspectors before deciding whether to amend the Draft Island Plan and presenting it to the States.


The new Island Plan is a hugely significant policy tool for the States, for everyone in the Island, and for future generations, as it will influence the shape and feel of Jersey as it responds to the challenges of today.


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