Environment Minister John Young refused the planning application to build 27 self-catering units at Retreat Farm – a former commercial glasshouse site on the border of St Mary and St Lawrence – in July, despite an independent UK planning inspector recommending it be given the go-ahead.
In turning down the application, Deputy Young said it was an inappropriate development in a green zone where there was a presumption against new development. He also said it ‘would set a precedent for the redevelopment of other glasshouse sites and an expectation that these could be replaced with major new developments in the countryside’.
The following month Deputy Scott Wickenden lodged a proposition calling on members to intervene and overturn the ministerial decision, with the matter
then being referred to the Planning Committee.
This week Deputy Wickenden lodged a revised proposition in which he says: ‘After consultation with the Bailiff and Greffier of the States, I have taken advice to amend the proposition, removing the requirement to refer the matter for the consideration by the Planning Committee, due to a concern that it would not be legal under Article 12(2)(a) of the Planning an Building (Jersey) Law 2001.’
