Homeowners could use the programme to ‘fly’ around the Island and see how proposed new buildings might look or impact on their surroundings.
It is just one of a number of initiatives devised by the Planning Department for 2015 – the 50th anniversary of the Island’s planning and building laws.
The department wants Islanders to let them know how the planning system should evolve.
Free pop-up clinics in public areas are also due to be held to provide planning advice to homeowners.
And it is hoped that making a planning application will soon become a paperless exercise that can be completed online.
Environment Minister Steve Luce said that the 3D modelling programme had allowed planners to view prospective development and review their impact on neighbouring properties. That programme, he said, would hopefully be made available to Islanders later this year.
‘We want to understand what people want from their planning and building service,’ Deputy Luce added.
‘We also want to hear how people hope to live their lives over the next 50 years.
‘This is about the public having the ability not only to engage with us, but to influence the direction we go in.’
Last year the Planning Department reviewed just over 1,000 minor planning applications and around 500 plans for larger developments and had around a six per cent refusal rate. Five per cent of applications were withdrawn, two per cent reconsidered by the Planning Applications Panel and 87 per cent were approved.
Senior planner Kelly Whitehead said that the department was planning to engage with Islanders using social media service Twitter this year, adding that an ‘ask the Environment Minister’ session was planned for Thursday 26 March.
A major change to allow people to make planning applications online is also being developed.
Deputy Luce said: ‘Hopefully it will allow people to make their whole application online with the option to pay for it all online too.’
Further events to ask Islanders about how St Helier should be developed are also due to be announced later this year.
FOR the moment the Environment Minister retains the right to call in any planning application and determine its outcome himself.
Historically this option has been reserved for large, complex or particularly controversial proposals.
However, later this year a new planning appeals system is due to be introduced. Under the new rules the minister will have no involvement over initial planning decisions, but will remain independent so he can adjudicate over any appeals that are lodged by objectors or applicants later on.
At ministerial planning meetings an outline of the proposal is given by the Planning Officer who has been dealing with the application as well as an indication of whether the project has received backing from the department, which can recommend approval or refusal of any scheme.
The meeting unfolds in the same way as a Planning Applications Panel meeting, with objectors given the chance to raise concerns and questions about the proposals followed by an address from those behind the project.
The Environment Minister may ask questions of any party who speaks at the meeting.
Although he is able to make a final decision about any plans that come before him at a ministerial meeting, the process often ends with a decision being deferred until a later date.
