‘This breaks over 25 Planning policies’: Appeal threatened against third finance centre building

  • Opponents to the Jersey International Finance Centre have threatened to appeal against the scheme
  • C Le Masuriers Ltd have warned they are considering an objection to third office block
  • Latest section of the project was passed this week by Planning Applications Committee
  • Will the project ever get off the ground? Take part in our poll below

PLANS for the latest building of the Jersey International Finance Centre could be derailed after rival developers threatened to launch an appeal against the scheme.

In a move that could further disrupt the controversial project, which has taken years to get under way, C Le Masuriers Ltd said they were considering appealing against the approval given on Thursday to the building of the third office block.

If the appeal is lodged, it could further delay the States-owned Jersey Development Company’s flagship project to create an international finance centre on the Esplanade car park.

The Planning Applications Committee, which was meeting publicly for the first time under its new name, voted four to one in favor of the third building, despite a string of objections from former politicians and around 340 online representations submitted by Islanders who oppose the work.

The audience at the public meetingTrinity Constable Philip Le Sueur (left) and St Mary Constable Juliette Gallichan (centre) both voted in favour of the development

Panel chairwoman Constable Juliette Gallichan, Constable Philip Le Sueur and Deputies Richard Rondel and Graham Truscott voted in favour of the latest building. Deputy Jeremy Maçon opposed the application as he had concerns about the unit’s design.

In closing his submissions to the panel, chartered surveyor Ben Ludlam, who works for C Le Masurier Ltd, said: ‘The proposals in this application break over 25 planning policies in the Island Plan, Masterplan and Waterfront Supplementary Planning Guidance, and will be subject to a third party legal review if the application is passed because they have Island-wide significance.’

Previously planning appeals would have been dealt with through the Royal Court, but under the revised system implemented this year they are now dealt with through a tribunal-style process chaired by an independent planning inspector from the UK who makes a recommendation to the Environment Minister.

Speaking after the meeting Mr Ludlam said: ‘Such are the departures from planning policy, including the Island Plan and the States mandate and procedure, that it is highly likely that an independent legal review will be required.

‘Quite clearly the States is unable to independently scrutinise other States planning applications.’

Former Planning Minister Rob Duhamel was in the audience

The latest approval means that the JDC has three planning permits, which approve the construction of buildings one, four and five of the Jersey International Finance Centre, as well as the project’s associated underground parking. However, although trees and shrubs have been cleared, construction is yet to start.

The debate over the latest plans attracted a host of former States Members who all urged the panel to reject or at least delay their decision.

Former Deputy John Young told the panel that the overall guiding element of the project – the Esplanade Quarter Masterplan – may no longer be valid.

Former Deputy and Planning Applications Committee chairman Sean Power urged the panel to defer their decision while alleged policy breaches relating to other buildings in the development were concluded.

Environmental campaign group co-ordinator for Save Our Shoreline Jersey Dave Cabeldu told the panel that the land below the Esplanade car park was far more contaminated than the JDC was willing to admit.

Former Senator Sarah Ferguson called for a condition to be attached to the plans giving the States Assembly the final say over whether the project went ahead.

Law firm Collas Crill also represented C Le Masurier Ltd at yesterday’s meeting. Lawyer Richard Holden told the panel that the JDC’s application had to be judged against the Esplanade Quarter Masterplan as it was a legally binding document.

The JDC’s managing director, Lee Henry, addressed concerns raised during the meeting, telling the panel that the Masterplan had been agreed by the States, that there was demand for grade A, modern office space and that the changing tenant demands had led to a new approach about the way the project was to be developed.

Before voting the panel were reminded that many of the concerns raised fell outside of their remit in deciding the planning application.

JDC managing director Lee Henry

*Jersey Development Company managing director Lee Henry said: ‘We are delighted with the result. This is the next step in delivering the Esplanade Quarter Masterplan and the next office of the Jersey International Finance Centre. The positives we have taken from the comments made is that I don’t think there was any objection to the design of the building. This building was reviewed by the Planning Department and the Jersey Architectural Commission and endorsed for approval. It’s a very well considered, high-quality building that will be in a prominent location at the entrance to St Helier.’

*Former Deputy Sean Power said: ‘There is a complaint procedure and investigation going on into planning breaches for buildings one and four. The panel shouldn’t have considered the application for building five until those have finished. I’m disappointed they didn’t defer their decision.’

*Former Environment Minister Rob Duhamel said he had thought about addressing the panel, but did not speak. Following the meeting he said: ‘I was going to address the panel, but what is particularly evident at this stage is the lack of a joined-up approach. It is symptomatic of how our States are acting at the moment. Perhaps the States should take the advice offered by Sarah Ferguson and take the opportunity to discuss matters in the Masterplan of 2008 to see if they still stand up.’

Long-serving member Odette Touzel said that they were originally a tapestry group and got together to make new kneelers for St John’s Church.

An artist's impression of the building

  • The Jersey Development Company’s 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.
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