Inert waste row to be settled by States while more detail emerges on Bridge reclamation plans

Tuesday 20 August 2024

States members are being asked to settle a dispute on inert waste stockpiling after the intervention of politicians on the Development & Planning Authority threw plans into disarray.

With progress stalled on a permanent solution and the void being used at Longue Hougue nearly full, the States Trading Supervisory Board put in a planning application for a temporary stockpile at the site which professional planners said should be passed.

But the DPA board decided to reject the proposals during an open planning meeting, putting forward alternative suggestions in the process for raising the height of the entire site.

With no route to go to a planning appeal, the STSB will take the matter to the States to decide during its meeting on Wednesday 4 September.

“The States has previously agreed stockpiling at Longue Hougue would be an interim measure, until a new site is available. If that does not commence now, the island may soon have nowhere to dispose of residual inert waste,” its policy letter says.

“This could severely impact the construction sector, at precisely the time government wants to encourage building, to tackle the housing crisis and deliver key infrastructure. This therefore requires urgency.”

Pictured: Proposed location of temporary insert waste stockpile. Planners backed the scheme suggesting a condition that it had to begin being removed within three years.

STSB says that there is no realistic chance of a new site being available in less than two-and-a-half years.

“The proposals cannot be scaled back to provide for a shorter timeframe. Other options that have been suggested as potential alternatives do not satisfy the immediate requirement, as they are likely to require a full planning application process and either a variation to a waste management licence or a new waste management licence,” it said.

“They are not a short-term fix, and a decision can only be made on such options when the full details are considered. It cannot be assumed they would be approved.

“In any event, temporary stockpiling of inert waste now could be an enabler for such options in future. For example, land-raising at Longue Hougue has been suggested as an alternative. Should the States decide to pursue this, and planning permission can be achieved, having a stockpile of suitable material onsite that could be used for this purpose would be a significant advantage.”

STSB adjusted where the stockpile would be situated at the request of the Guernsey Development Agency, which has been given responsibility for enhancing the Bridge and St Peter Port seafront areas.

Pictured: The potential for a reclamation scheme east of Griffith's yard is a future option being pursed by the Guernsey Development Agency.  

In a letter of comment, the GDA revealed its proposal that Marine and General would be relocated from its current North Side home to Longue Hougue so space needed to be kept for that.

“Without this area of land the GDA will be unable to achieve its vision which has been endorsed by its Political Oversight Group and also P&R. The date on which construction is likely to start in this area is Q1 2027, however it is likely that a number of ground investigations surveys will be undertaken before this meaning that access would be required during prior years.”

No details are given on what it has planned for North Side, but it has included options for a reclamation scheme at Black Rock adjacent to Vale Castle, an area previously discussed by the States, that would take future inert waste while being constructed.

The GDA says creating this land would create economic opportunities, including for housing, and could help with flood defences.

It wants Guernsey Waste to assist it in accelerating planning permission, an environment impact assessment and design of this reclamation area. 

Pictured top: The remaining void space for inert waste at Longue Hougue as of 19 December 2023.