- Homeowners and businesses could find it easier to make changes to property if planning law is changed
- Environment Minister Steve Luce wants to relax regulations to allow minor changes without permission
- Changes would include being able to replace windows without permission on non-listed buildings
- What do you think of current planning restrictions? Take part in our poll below
CHANGES to the planning law which would make it easier for Islanders to make alterations to their homes and businesses could be introduced at the end of this year.
Environment Minister Steve Luce wants to relax the planning laws to allow many minor changes to be made to homes and businesses without the need for planning permission.
The possible changes include:
- Fewer restrictions on replacement signs, as well as the sizes of signs for shops and advertising on construction scaffolding and hoardings.
- More leeway on energy efficiency measures, particularly on the size of solar panels and replacement roofs to allow for the upgrading of insulation.
- Allowing windows to be changed, replaced or blocked up on non-listed buildings without the need for planning permission.
Changes to the law will now be drafted before being put out for further consultation and then lodged with the States. The changes will form the first phase of a larger consultation on reducing planning restrictions.
Deputy Luce said: ‘When I came into office, I made a pledge to people that I would look at changing what can be done without planning permission.
‘We’re reviewing all permitted development with a view to making it quicker and easier for people to get on with their lives and run their businesses.
‘That review is still ongoing, but in talking to many different people and groups over the last few months, we’ve got a reasonable understanding of what we can do now to achieve some quick wins which we expect to see in place by the end of this year.’
Among issues still to be considered in phase two of the changes to planning restrictions due to be carried out in 2016 and 2017 is the loss of agricultural land.
‘Clearly, this must be balanced with what’s right for Jersey as a whole, so we’ll be considering the more contentious subjects over the coming year before making further changes down the line,’ the minister said.
A ‘LANDMARK’ office tower three times the size of most St Helier buildings could be constructed under plans being considered by the Environment Minister.
In an announcement made in front of the Island’s business community in April, Deputy Steve Luce outlined his vision for a large office block that would dwarf other developments in town.
As public debate over the separate Jersey International Finance Centre and the need for more office space continues, Deputy Luce told a 250-strong audience at the monthly Chamber of Commerce lunch that it could be time to consider building St Helier’s tallest tower to help boost the economy.
‘What better statement to make about our confidence in the commercial quarter of St Helier than to have a stand-out building, something to be proud of, something that our business community can take pride in?’
The St Martin Deputy said that such a building would reflect the quality and integrity of the Island’s financial services industry, and added: ‘It would be a building that everyone can look at and say “we did that and it’s good”.’
The proposed ‘landmark’ office block divided heritage lobbyists and architects.
Campaigners Save Jersey’s Heritage expressed their outrage following Environment Minister Steve Luce’s vision for an office block that would be taller than most buildings in the capital.
