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Plans to develop housing on a green field in the grounds of the Princess Elizabeth Hospital have taken another step forward.
Policy & Resources has submitted an application for outline planning permission to build a three- and four-storey building to provide 66 units of key worker accommodation, as well as parking and a bike shelter.
In July the States rejected an attempt by some deputies to protect the land from development, so any opposition will now be targeted through the planning process.
“There is a clear need to develop more of this kind of accommodation urgently and having listened to the professionals, the closer these units are to the hospital, the more they are likely to suit the demands and needs of staff and the more likely they are to support vital recruitment.” said P&R member Deputy Dave Mahoney.
Pictured: Deputy Dave Mahoney.
His committee is working in tandem with Health & Social Care on the proposal, although not every member on those committees back the idea.
But HSC President Deputy Al Brouard said: “We need to do everything possible to attract staff so we can continue delivering these essential services which are under more and more pressure. Being able to offer the right sort of accommodation in the right location is a big part of that.”
The committees argue that the majority of those who ask for staff accommodation want to be located as close as possible to their work, particularly if they work shift patterns or are on-call.
Pictured: P&R has applied for outline planning permission for 66 units of key worker accommodation - more could follow.
They believe this is the best option “as many areas of health and social care look to avoid reaching a crisis point as a result of recruitment and retention difficulties which are being experienced both on-Island and more widely.”
In rejecting a big to protect the field, the Assembly agreed a counter proposal by Deputies Neil Inder and Mark Helyar which means that any development of key workers’ housing on the field will trigger the States spending up to £300,000 buying land of an equivalent size elsewhere to be converted into grassland for dairy farming.
Pictured: Deputies Mark Helyar and Neil Inder.
The application can be viewed at gov.gg/liveplanningapplications.
Its reference number is OP/2022/2321 and the address for the application is Le Bordage Seath, Rue Mignot, Le Vauquiedor, St Andrew’s.
People have three weeks from its publication to object or make any comments.
Once this period has passed, the application and any representations are reviewed by planning officers.
It may then have to go to an open planning meeting where the political members of the Development & Planning Authority will decide whether it should be approved.
To find out more about the planning process, you can watch a video at gov.gg/planningandbuilding.
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