FURTHER attempts to block the use of greenfield sites for housing as part of the Bridging Island Plan have been backed by a former Bailiff.
Sir Philip Bailhache, leader of the Jersey Liberal Conservatives, has been lobbying Grouville parishioners and has helped bring forward a requête – an ancient legal device allowing parishioners to demand that a parish assembly is held – requesting that ‘strong objections’ be raised against the potential development of several sites in the parish.
Environment Minister John Young’s proposition, which is due to be debated later this month, plus various amendments contain proposals for dozens of fields across the Island to be rezoned for housing.
The latest House Price Index showed that the average cost of a home rose from £580,000 in 2020 to £673,000 last year – a jump of around £1,788 a week. Both Deputy Young and Housing Minister Russell Labey have spoken of the need to balance the growing demand for properties with the need to protect Jersey’s natural environment.
Grouville parishioners will now meet at the parish hall on Thursday 10 March to vote on the requête, which asks that Constable John Le Maistre relay ‘concerns with the process adopted for the Bridging Island Plan’ to the States Assembly, and raise objections ‘on environmental and other grounds’ on the proposed rezoning of several sites in the area.
This includes fields G403C, G403D and part of G432A situated near Verona stores, as well as G508, G508A, G526, G526A and G521A near Grouville School – which have been put forward by St Helier Deputy Scott Wickenden to be used for homes – as well as St Martin Deputy Steve Luce’s proposal for G355 and G358A, on Grouville’s La Sente des Fonds, to also be included.
If passed, the requête would also ask Mr Le Maistre to withdraw his amendment to use field G234 for affordable homes and relay ‘strong support’ for Grouville Deputy Carolyn Labey’s amendment to remove field G392A from the list of sites that could be rezoned.
Mr Le Maistre has said his amendment would help to alleviate some of the pressure within the Island’s property market, while Deputy Wickenden has argued that the parish had a ‘very poor’ record of providing affordable and first-time buyer housing.
Peter Hargreaves, one of the signatories of the requête, said: ‘One block of our concerns is wholly environmental and the other is that due process was not followed within the Bridging Island Plan, as fields were put forward despite having already been effectively turned down by planning inspectors. The use of a requête should be welcomed because it is a democratic approach. It is important to recognise that this is a complex matter and that is why it should not be rushed through.’
JEP nature correspondent Bob Tompkins has warned that building on some of the proposed fields would increase the risk of flooding and cause damage to wildlife habitats and ecosystems in the surrounding marshland. He said he would be speaking at the meeting next week.
‘I still think there is a place for a requête as it can also help bring issues to people’s attention – particularly the parishioners. We are not saying don’t build housing, we are saying don’t build it in the wrong place.’
