- No action being taken on controversial chopping down of Esplanade trees
- Site clearance was carried out by Jersey Development Company, hoping to build a financial hub on the site
- At the time, Islanders reported seeing dead rabbits in the area and campaigners were outraged
- Planning Department launched investigation after complaint from Save Our Shoreline Jersey
NO ACTION is to be taken following the controversial chopping down of trees at the Esplanade car park, the Planning Department has ruled.
The site clearance, which provoked outrage from some Islanders earlier this year, was carried out by the Jersey Development Company, which is hoping to build a financial hub on the site.
The clearance prompted lobbyists Save Our Shoreline Jersey – long-time opponents of the scheme – to complain to the Planning Department, which launched an investigation into the allegations.
Planning has now ruled that the work, which was said to have involved chainsaws and been done outside times permitted by the relevant planning application, was ‘in all likelihood’ a breach of a condition, but that it was not worthwhile pursuing the matter further.
The department said that their only step now would be to refer the case for prosecution – something they were not prepared to do.
In a reply to Save Our Shoreline, the Planning Department said: ‘Having looked at all facts surrounding the case, it is clear that although a breach of planning control did, in all likelihood, occur, the impact of that breach did not give rise to an unreasonable level of harm to residents near the site, nor to the wider amenity of the area.
‘The loss of the trees and planting are approved and the works have now been carried out.
‘The department does not consider that anything worthwhile would be gained through pursuing the matter further.’
However, Save Our Shoreline Jersey say they are not satisfied with Planning’s response, and the group have written back to the department to ask that the case be taken further.
The letter, written by group chairman Michael du Pré, said: ‘We believe that it is in the interest of the public for you to pursue this high-profile matter, over which there has been outrage.’
PLANNING investigated the alleged breach of the approved permit for building four of the Jersey International Finance Centre after it was claimed, by campaigners Save Our Shoreline Jersey and others, that work to clear trees and shrubs at the Esplanade car park was carried out outside of the times permitted by the planning approval associated with the unit.
Applicants are bound to act in accordance with their planning permit and can face consequences if breaches are found to have been committed.
But how does the process work?
Compliance officers handle complaints about potential breaches and have a number of options in the course of their work.
Site inspections can be carried out to see what, or, indeed, if any, breach has occurred.
Officers work on a ‘public interest’ basis and if a breach is so severe – perhaps the building of an entire house without permission – those responsible can be taken to court.
In less severe instances the matter will be referred back to planning, who may issue a warning or discuss the matter with the applicant.
In cases where two or more parties are involved over a dispute, officers attempt to find a resolution suitable to all.
Where an infringement is said to be so minor, and it is deemed that public money and resources should not be used to pursue the matter, they can also decide to take no action at all.
- The Jersey Development Companys plans for the Jersey International Finance Centre on the Esplanade car park site include six new buildings.
- Proposals were put forward in December for the third building in the scheme, which the Jersey Development Company described as a clear sign of progress and interest in modern office space
- To date, the organisation has secured planning permission for two large office blocks as well as the underground parking that will form part of the overall plans.
- If approved, the latest plans would provide 69,000 square feet of office space in a building overlooking the roundabout on Route de la Libération.
- Lee Henry, the managing director of the Jersey Development Company said that the latest planning application envisaged outdoor table tennis tables for everyone to use and that future plans would include a café.
- Under the plans, a number of parking spaces have been relocated to unused scrubland near Jardins de la Mer while the work is carried out.
