In a fresh attempt to redevelop or clear run-down plots, he has written to owners of derelict greenhouses to ask what they propose to do with their plots.
It is the first step in the Environment Minister’s attempt to improve areas of the countryside that contain disused glasshouses.
Deputy Luce has written to owners of dilapidated sites to suggest that there may be development opportunities that would provide a financial return, but also to remind them that the Planning and Building Law gives him the power to order the removal or restoration of sites which have been left to ruin.
It is a problem that has faced a succession of Environment Ministers, with glasshouse buildings increasingly falling out of use in recent years. Guidelines set out under the Island Plan, which governs building in Jersey, include measures designed to protect the countryside’s green zone and encourage the use of agricultural land rather than simply losing it to new developments. Deputy Luce said that some areas were in such a poor state of disrepair that they posed a health and safety risk, but that he was keen to work with landowners to find suitable development solutions.
He added: ‘The carrot is that land owners know I have the ability to grant a certain amount of planning permission. The idea is that we can give enough value back through planning permission to pay for the demolition of the site and provide a bit more besides.
‘Large sites are not simply going to get covered in houses, but at the same time we are not saying that land owners will get nothing. There is an intimation in my letter that says we are willing to work with people about coming to a mutually acceptable arrangement.
‘At this stage I would like to hear from owners of glasshouse sites so that we can explore the options.’
He added that the message also contained a reminder to land owners that powers under the law meant it was also possible for him to order the repair or remediation of sites that were considered to have fallen into a dangerous state of disrepair. ‘I am hoping we don’t get to that point,’ Deputy Luce added.
The States Rural Economy Strategy aims to grow the agricultural economy while also protecting Jersey’s natural environment. It states that where greenhouses are disused but still in good condition, it would be beneficial to keep them for future agricultural use in order to support the rural economy by promoting local food production and food security.
Some units sit on fields that have full agricultural status, meaning that even if they are not being used by the land owners, they must be leased to bona-fide growers.
ANGRY?… No, furious would better describe how I felt when I heard in January that a luxury house was to be built on a former glasshouse site in St Saviour.
Why? Well, I’ll tell you. Many years ago, when dear old Freddie Cohen was Environment Minister, I made an inquiry to his department about building a house at our family’s farm in St Brelade.
Once upon a time, a greenhouse sat on the land in question. It had blown down in the Great Storm of 1987, but was not rebuilt as my parents-in-law had long since retired.
After a couple of phone calls, a planning officer came to the farm. He listened while I outlined what we had in mind.
Then he looked at me with a half-grin and said: ‘No, you will not be allowed to build a property where that greenhouse once stood. It would be in the green zone and contrary to the Island Plan.’
I pointed out that my brother-in-law had been able to build a home on adjacent land some thirty years before and that we were looking to mirror the design and scale of his property, but to no avail.
He said that agricultural land was sacred – even if the land in question had ceased to be of any use to agriculture.
Glasshouse sites could not be built on unless there was a change in policy. With that, I thanked him for his visit, realising that we were not going to be able to do anything about it.
Making an expensive application that was going to be refused would be a waste of time and money.
Since then, there have been many incursions into this so called ‘green zone’, with the backing of the Planning department.
But what really got my goat this year was the revelation that plans for a luxury mansion in St Saviour had been passed on Senator Cohen’s watch, even though this too was on agricultural land in the green zone.
And get this, it was on an ex-greenhouse site and passed at the very same time that I had made inquiries about building a humble home in St Brelade.
What was the difference, I am asking myself today?
Was it that my wife and I happen to be Jersey born and bred? Or was it because a very wealthy gentleman who does not even live in the Island had more rights to build than us?
I am sure we are not the only family which feels that the Planning department have had double standards.
I would really like some honest answers about how they could approve such a huge development and refuse ours.
The way I see it, money talks louder than any Island Plan.
