What are green zone policies supposed to be restricting?

From Jeremy Mallinson.

I READ with considerable concern the reason for Senator Shenton’s criticism of the States of Jersey Planning and Environment department (JEP, 17 March) in their recommending for approval a major development in the green zone overlooking St Ouen’s Bay.

However, I fully acknowledge that the planning application panel is unlikely to take notice of a press article critical of an individual planning officer in the Planning department and, of course, recognise that the panel’s responsibility is always to be objective in their decision-making.

The planning application in question, and the recommended approval of the planning office to the application panel, concerns a house extension in the Les Hativieaux region of St Ouen’s Bay that would allow almost a doubling of the footprint of the house, Le Vouest. The plans also add an additional storey to the property in this green zone of ‘special interest’.

The architect has informed those against this development that the current white painted walls of the building are to be covered by timber in order, in his opinion, to blend better with the landscape. However, he fails to make mention of the major impact of the two to three levels of extensive glazing that will totally negate any aesthetic value of the minimal timber cladding, on the most focal western front of this proposed major development.

The Les Hativieaux area of the country Parish of St Ouen represents a significant backdrop to St Ouen’s Bay, as well as the properties administered by the National Trust for Jersey which include the valuable nature reserve of St Ouen’s pond.

Although it is recognised that the Line in the Sand protest organised by the National Trust for Jersey last October principally concerned itself with the conservation of Jersey’s unique coastline, the bay’s backdrop represents an important integral part of one of Jersey’s most prestigious environments.

Letters of objection to the scale of the proposed development above Les Hativieaux have been submitted to the Planning office by the Parish of St Ouen, the National Trust for Jersey and from owners of neighbouring properties.

Therefore, taking into consideration such authoritative objections to this sizeable development in a green zone, I believe that the time has now come for the Planning and Environment Minister, Freddie Cohen, to more clearly define to the layman exactly what the Island’s green zone policies restrict, or do not restrict?

And just how many of the conservation strategies, currently included in the draft Island Plan, are likely to be adhered to in order to prevent future planning decisions of major developments, as in this case, that will give rise to further erosions of Jersey’s invaluable natural heritage?