Information about the draft Bridging Island Plan Examination in Public (EiP)

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About the EiP

Introduction

Although hosted on the Government's website, this webpage is under the direction and the sole responsibility of Helen Wilson, the independent Programme Officer.

Date and venue of EiP hearings

The Examination in Public hearings have concluded.

Watch recordings of the hearings

The planning inspectors will now produce a report of their recommendations, which the Minister for the Environment is expected to receive in the new year.

Week 1 of the hearings were held from Monday 15 November 2021 at 10am to Thursday 18 November 2021.

Following a request from the Minister for the Environment, to take into account the sitting of the States Assembly, the Inspectors agreed that Week 2 of the hearings would be held from Monday 29 November 2021 to Thursday 2 December 2021.

The hearings took place in The Member's Room, Société Jersiaise, 7 Pier Road, St. Helier, Jersey JE2 4XW.

Inspectors

The appointed planning inspectors are:

Lead Inspector, Keith Holland BA (Hons) Dip TP MRTPI ARICS
Assistant Principal Inspector, Geoff Salter BA MRTPI
Assistant Senior Inspector, Derek Stebbing BA (Hons) DipEP MRTPI has also been appointed to provide support to the Lead and Assistant Principal Inspectors

Terms of reference

View the planning inspectors' terms of reference

Programme Officer

Ms Helen Wilson has also been appointed as Programme Officer to assist the inspectors with the administration of the EiP.

Helen Wilson, IP Programme Officer
c/o Government of Jersey
Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance
19-21 Broad Street
St Helier
Jersey
JE2 3RR

Phone: +44 (0) 151 3523863
Mobile: +44 (0) 7879 443035
Email: progofficer@aol.com

Guidance notes

Current guidance note	Date published
Inspectors Guidance Note	4 November 2021

Previous guidance note	Date published
Inspectors Guidance Note	18 October 2021
Inspectors Guidance Note	11 October 2021
Inspectors Guidance Note	22 September 2021

Hearings programme

The Examination in Public hearings have concluded.

Current hearings programme	Date published
EiP Final Hearing Programme (3)	2 December 2021

Previous hearings programmes	Date published
EiP Final Hearing Programme (2)	26 November 2021
EiP Final Hearings Programme (1)	12 November 2021
EiP Hearings Programme	4 November 2021
EiP Draft Hearings Programme	18 October 2021
EiP Hearings Programme	11 October 2021
EiP Draft Hearings Programme	22 September 2021

Briefing note: participation at the hearing sessions

Current briefing note	Date published
Briefing note: participation at the hearing sessions	4 November 2021

Information requested by the Planning Inspectors at the Examination

The Minister for the Environment has issued further information regarding housing supply calculations titled the Assessment of housing site methodology report. This report has been requested by the independent planning inspectors at the examination in public, to detail how the Island Plan Review team calculated the housing supply figures (page 186 of the draft Bridging Island Plan).

The Island Plan Review team have issued the Development affecting visitor accommodation note, after the inspectors agreed to the team's offer of providing this at the EiP. This note has been prepared following discussion at the draft bridging Island Plan examination in public about Policy EV1: Visitor accommodation, and the potential for changes to be made to it.

The note does two things:

it sets out a list of planning applications that have either been determined; or are pending determination in 2021, involving development proposals resulting in the loss of existing or former visitor accommodation (Class F) to other uses; and
it sets out the detail and timeline of the former prime tourism sites policy.

Examination news

26 November 2021

If you wish to comment on the report (above), comments should be sent to the Programme Officer by no later than 5pm on Friday 10 December.

15 November 2021

The Minister for the Environment has opened the Examination in Public.

Minister for the Environment's speech

4 November 2021

The final Hearings Programme and Guidance Note have been published by the Planning Inspectors.

The Further Representations have now been published.

1 November 2021

The Minister for the Environment has published Statement Response 26a - Provision of affordable homes, which is an addition to Part 3 of the draft Bridging Island Plan: Post-consultation report.

25 October 2021

The Minister for the Environment has published Statement Response 59a - Visitor accommodation, which is an addition to Part 3 of the draft Bridging Island Plan: Post-consultation report.

15 October 2021

Examination in Public (EiP) Programme – Notice of Major Revision to Scheduling of Week 2

The Inspectors appointed to examine the draft Bridging Island Plan are currently inviting further representations on certain matters to inform the EiP, with a closing date for receipt of responses by 5pm Friday 22 October 2021. The EiP Programme was published, along with the invitation to submit further representations, on 11 October 2021.

Week 2 of the EiP was previously scheduled to take place from Monday, 22 November to Thursday, 25 November 2021. Following a request from the Minister of the Environment, to take into account the sitting of the States Assembly during that week, the Inspectors have agreed that the proposed Week 2 of the EiP hearing sessions will now be held from Monday, 29 November to Thursday, 2 December 2021.

Week 1 of the EiP hearing session is presently scheduled to be held from Monday, 15 November to Thursday, 18 November 2021 (with Day 5, Friday, 19 November 2021 in reserve for overruns) and this remains unchanged.

An updated EiP Programme has been published (as at 18 October 2021) to reflect the rescheduled hearing dates. The Inspectors intend to issue a revised, final EiP Programme following the consideration of the further representations received. However, it is not envisaged any further major date changes will be necessary.

All proposed participants identified (at this stage) for Week 2 have been contacted directly by the Programme Officer.

Please contact the Programme Officer if you have any questions - progofficer@aol.com

11 October 2021

Inspectors' Invitation to submit Further Representations

Following consideration of the comments received on the Draft List, the Inspectors are publishing the EiP Programme/Timetable and are inviting formal further representations in relation to certain matters.

Article 10 of the Planning and Building (Covid-19 Bridging Island Plan) (Jersey) Order 2021, limits these representations to be made only by:

a States Member, or member of the public, who has submitted an initial representation
any other person invited by the Inspector to do so.

The Inspectors are now inviting further representations as follows:

Anyone who has submitted an initial representation may submit a further representation in relation to matters which have previously been raised by any representation to the draft Bridging Island Plan (both public representations and States Members' Amendments); matters raised by the Minister for the Environment's Post-Consultation Report; matters to be addressed as set out in the EiP Programme; or matters to be raised at the Plenary session (where material to the Plan).
Where referring to an initial representation made by another party during the formal public consultation period on the draft Bridging Island Plan, please ensure the relevant response reference is provided.
A further representation can be made whether or not you have been invited and agreed to participate at the thematic hearing sessions or have elected to appear and be heard at the plenary session. Where you are to be a participant at a thematic or plenary hearing session, you must identify any substantive points which you wish to expand on at the hearing session. There will be no opportunity to submit sepavrate statements.
Please note, there is no need or value in repeating any initial representation you may have made, which will have been read and considered by the Inspectors. However, if necessary, you may supplement or replace any points previously made in your initial representation.
Where an initial representation has not otherwise been made, the Inspectors are inviting new representations (which may be made by any person who has a legitimate interest) on the following matters of significance that have emerged, with particular reference to:
1. the alternative sites for affordable housing suggested by SR 26 (page 79) Part 3 of the Minister for the Environment's Post-Consultation Report, listed in Appendix 2 to the EiP Programme.
2. the alternative policy options posed by the Minister for the Environment for further consideration, including those further changes which the Minister is minded to make, as set out in Part 3: Statement Responses of his Post-Consultation Report
3. the sites suggested for allocation in the initial representations received to the draft Bridging Island Plan consultation (non-allocated sites), set out in the list at Appendix 3 of the EiP Programme.
4. the modifications described as substantive in Part 6 of the Minister for the Environment's Post-Consultation Report
5. the changes suggested by States Members amendments that the Minister for the Environment is minded to accept in Part 5 of his Post-Consultation Report

The initial representations made can be viewed at the draft Bridging Island Plan consultation website

The Minster's for the Environment's Post-Consultation Report (which includes the States Members Amendments – see Part 5)

A further representation must be limited to a maximum of 1,500 words in length. The word limit does not include any concise supplementary documents that are submitted to accompany the further representation.

It must include your name and postal address. Where making a new representation in relation to 2. above, you must also indicate in your response whether you wish to receive circulated information as to documents published in the EiP (see also Notes below).

Further representations must be submitted in writing to the Programme Officer by 5pm on Friday 22 October 2021. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, late submissions will not be accepted. These should be emailed to progofficer@aol.com or posted to:

Helen Wilson, IP Programme Officer
c/o Government of Jersey
Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance
19-21 Broad Street
St Helier
Jersey
JE2 3RR

Notes:

Following the closing date for receipt of further representations, all responses will be posted on the Examination website, so that they are available to all participants and anyone else who wishes to read them. Because they will be available in this way, they will not be circulated directly to participants. However, anyone who is unable to access them on the website may request copies from the Programme Officer.

Further changes may be necessary to the EiP Programme following consideration of the further representations. Participants will be informed by the Programme Officer of any changes. However, it remains the ultimate responsibility of participants to ensure that they keep themselves up to date

If you made a representation during the draft Bridging Island Plan consultation, you should previously have been contacted by the Programme Officer inviting you to comment on the Draft List and/or request to be heard during the EiP hearings. If you have not been contacted but believe you should have been, please email the Programme Officer.

If you did not submit comments during the draft Bridging Island Plan consultation but an issue or site of particular interest to you has since arisen as a result of the consultation, you may contact the planning inspectors via the Programme Officer to request to be included at this late stage. You must provide a clear reason in your request, and any late inclusion into the process will be at the Inspectors' discretion.

22 September 2021

Draft list of topics and participants
A Draft List of matters and participants for the proposed Examination in Public Session (EiP) has been drawn up by the Inspectors and is based on the representations submitted during the consultation period (including States Members Amendments), the Minister's responses, and any others identified to be invited to attend. The Draft List can be viewed on the Examination website.

The Inspectors now wish to provide an opportunity for those with an interest in the EiP to comment on the scope of the matters that have been selected and the list of proposed participants. It also provides an opportunity for any party that has made a representation to express a wish to participate at a thematic hearing session (if selected by the Inspectors) and an open plenary hearing session.

The Inspectors have sought to keep the number of participants in the proposed sessions to numbers that will allow for a manageable debate. Large numbers will make debate difficult. However, it is essential that the Inspectors are able to ensure that there will be a sufficient range of different points of view for each matter to be discussed, whilst also aiming to adopt a proportionate approach and avoid too much duplication i.e. not having too many participants making very similar points.

For further information about the EiP, parties are urged to refer to the Guidance Note from the Inspectors which is being published alongside the Draft List. Any further questions which are not dealt with in the Guidance Note should be addressed to the Programme Officer.

Comments on the Draft List, which were limited at this initial stage to the scope of the matters which have been selected or the list of participants, were submitted to the Programme Officer by 2pm on Tuesday 5 October 2021. Comments were emailed to progofficer@aol.com or posted to:

Helen Wilson, IP Programme Officer
c/o Government of Jersey
Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance
19-21 Broad Street
St Helier
Jersey
JE2 3RR

Following consideration of comments received, the Inspectors will be revising and updating the Draft List to form the EiP Programme. An opportunity will then be provided to make formal 'Further Representations': please refer to the Guidance Note from the Inspectors for more details.

If you made a representation during the draft Bridging Island Plan consultation, you will have been contacted by the Programme Officer inviting you to comment on the draft list and/or request to be heard during the Examination public hearings. If you have not been contacted but believe you should have been, please email the Programme Officer.

Planning inspectors' report

The Minister for the Environment has published and presented to the States Assembly the independent planning inspectors’ report into the draft Bridging Island Plan following the examination in public, held in Autumn 2021. The planning inspectors’ report comprehensively reflects on and scrutinises the proposals and policies in the draft Bridging Island Plan and the issues raised during consultation, by taking into consideration the valuable input of both the public and States Members.

Supporting documents

Minister for the Environment key reports
CD1.1	Strategic Issues and Options: findings report	11 December 2019
CD1.2	Island Plan Review in-committee debate report (R.66/2020)	14 July 2020
CD1.3	Island Plan Review in-committee debate: output summary (R.166/2020)	5 October 2020
CD1.4	Preferred Strategy Report	23 October 2020
CD1.5	Strategic Issues and Options: findings report	11 December 2019
CD1.6	Island Plan Review in-committee debate report (R.66/2020)	14 July 2020
CD1.7	Island Plan Review in-committee debate: output summary (R.166/2020)	5 October 2020
Specific studies
CD2.1	Jersey Integrated Landscape and Seascape Character Assessment (ILSCA)	16 October 2020
CD2.2	Jersey's Coastal National Park Boundary Review	24 February 2021
CD2.3	Historic Environment Review	18 February 2021
CD2.4	Employment Land Study	24 March 2021
CD2.5	Objective Assessment of Housing Needs	24 October 2019
CD2.6	St Helier Urban Character Appraisal	31 March 2021
CD2.7	Public Realm and Movement Strategy Stage 2	31 March 2021
CD2.8	Public Realm and Movement Strategy Stage 3	31 March 2021
CD2.9	Jersey Landscape Sensitivity Assessment (2020)	19 April 2021
CD2.10	St Helier Open Space Survey Results (2018)	11 April 2018
CD2.11	St Helier Open Space Audit (2018)	22 April 2021
CD2.12	St Brelade Character Appraisal	21 April 2021
CD2.13	Infrastructure Capacity Study	15 April 2021
CD2.14	Minerals, Waste and Water	14 April 2021
CD2.15	Strategic Flood Risk Assessment	19 April 2021
Housing and other call for sites assessments
CD3.1	Housing land availability and assessment of sites	21 April 2021
CD3.2	Protected and natural spaces: assessment of sites	21 April 2021
CD3.3	Employment land: assessment of sites	21 April 2021
CD3.4	Community facilities and open space: assessment of sites	21 April 2021
Impact assessments
CD4.1	Children's Rights Impact Assessment	20 April 2021
CD4.2	Bridging Island Plan: Viability Note	21 April 2021
CD4.3	Draft bridging Island Plan: Sustainability Appraisal	19 May 2021
CD4.4	Draft bridging Island Plan: Sustainability Appraisal Non-technical summary	19 May 2021
CD4.5	Draft bridging Island Plan: Sustainability Appraisal Technical Annex	19 May 2021
Additional information published
CD5.1	Existing and proposed Coastal National Park area comparison map