A new Action Plan for a new IDP

Tuesday 18 June 2019

An action plan looking to consider overhauling the IDP and ensure people's concerns with the current model don't fall on 'deaf ears' has been released by the new Development & Planning Authority.

It outlines ideas the DPA has on changing the policies in the IDP, and also sets out how concerns raised by the public and politicians will be addressed. The long term aim of the action plan would be to 'empower the community' in a proportionate and cost effective way.

The Action Plan lays out a clear direction for addressing a wide range of issues including:

• The development of brownfield vs greenfield sites
• Affordable housing 
• Infrastructure 
• Important Open Land 

One of the key items that would be reviewed would be Draft Development Frameworks - a new tool planning have been using to speed up the process of getting larger scale developments off the ground. Questions will be asked as to whether they are useful, and if the right criteria is being applied to their evaluations. 

At the same time though, the plan also outlines how the DPA will put an emphasis on moving forward frameworks for sites like Leale's Yard, which many believe needs development. 

A draft development framework for Pointues Rocques site has been particularly unpopular. 

In a foreword at the start of the report, Deputy Dawn Tindall, the new DPA President, said: "In December 2018, the first Annual Monitoring Report was debated by the States of Deliberation. Whilst that factual report was confirming how the policies were working as required by the States’ approved IslandDevelopment Plan 2016, there were many voices, both in the Assembly and in the public, who were indicating a general concern about the policies themselves.

"Having only had one year of statistics and evidence to work on, the Development & Planning Authority (D&PA), or indeed the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure and the Policy & Resources Committee, saw no reason to advise the States that the policies as approved were not working. However, those voices of complaint have not fallen on deaf ears and the D&PA have been working on an Action Plan since December 2018, to address some if not all of those concerns.

"This document sets out those actions including how the responsibilities in the Island Development Plan are being enhanced, some quick wins and how we intend to communicate the response we have made. Whilst the draft was initially approved in early May, this final version of the Action Plan was endorsed by the Committee on the 12 June 2019."

For all of its reported flaws, the IDP is often used to argue both for and against planning applications. In the case of the Rue des Douits vinery, the residents argued development would have broken IDP policies designed to protect quiet areas of the island. 

The IDP first came into play in 2016. Its effectiveness and how closely the policies it contained were being followed was debated by the States last year, but while many accepted it was working, concerns were raised as to whether the policies were the right ones. 

A spokesperson for the DPA said: "Whilst most of the actions in the Plan are able to be undertaken within current resources this year, the P&R Committee has been advised of the possible need for further resources for 2020.  This is particularly in respect of Development Frameworks for Regeneration Areas and the Communication Plan.

"Now that the Action Plan, which has been 6 months in the making, has been completed, the D&PA will be considering how best for Members of the Assembly to provide input into this Action Plan in the light of the lodging of the Requete."

In addition to the Action Plan, the D&PA will be lodging an amendment to the P&R Plan – 2018 Review and 2019 Update.  As the D&PA is not formally part of the P&R Plan process yet it is a policy-making Committee, the Committee is asking the Assembly to approve its inclusion in the process.  This should ensure that now, and in the future, the priorities and resources required to deliver effective planning policies are given due consideration at the appropriate time.