PLANNING officers clashed with members of the project team for Jersey’s new hospital on the final day of a week-long inquiry into the £800 million scheme.
The project would – if approved – cause ‘serious and unacceptable harm’, according to the Planning Department’s closing submissions. However, those behind the scheme said the benefits ‘demonstrably outweighed any adverse impact’.
Having completed the inquiry, independent inspector Philip Staddon will now write a report making recommendations for Environment Minister John Young, who will make the final decision about whether to grant or refuse planning permission.
Mr Staddon admitted that Deputy Young faced ‘a really complex judgment in terms of the positives and negative harms we have heard about’.
Planning officer Chris Jones said that while the need for a new hospital made the project a high priority, this could not be considered to be a ‘free pass’ in planning terms.
He said: ‘The scheme would cause serious and unacceptable harm to the character of the area. It is not the best design solution relative to the needs of the hospital and the land available, and the mitigation measures are not adequate.’
Architect Mark Furlonger said the plans would create a ‘modern, flexible, fit-for-purpose and sustainable facility’, whose advantages would outweigh any negative impact.
Alastair Layzell, of Save Jersey’s Heritage, criticised the project team for saying the height of the proposed build ‘challenged’ policies in the Bridging Island Plan.
He said: ‘Islanders deserve to have a shovel called a shovel. At over 100 feet at the highest point, the proposed building breaks the tall buildings policy in the Island Plan.’
The inquiry heard that up to 850 people could be employed to construct the facility, with hotels being used to accommodate workers.
Construction director Alasdair Fernie said that workers from different trades would be required at different stages of the project, estimating that around 250 people would be employed during the first 18 months of the project, rising to a peak of 850.
Talks had taken place regarding the takeover of hotel accommodation for workers, Mr Fernie said, although no further details were given. He added that it would be necessary to strike a balance between offering contracts to members of the local workforce and recognising that the Island’s construction industry was already facing a busy period.
Mr Fernie added that an average of around 430 vehicle movements per day would be involved in the construction phase.
The inquiry also considered a series of planning conditions that would form part of any planning consent, covering areas such as noise, waste, transport strategy, ecology and parking. Mr Staddon said that discussions about such conditions were a standard part of an inquiry and should not be seen as an indication about whether or not planning permission would be granted.
