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A strategic application to build key worker homes on a hospital field has hit blockages after the Development & Planning Authority told Health its site selection criteria was too limited.
The States’ top committee and Health & Social Care have sought permission to construct more than 60 units of accommodation for healthcare staff on a valley field nestled between the hospital and Duchess of Kent House since December last year.
HSC originally deemed that the only suitable locations for consideration should be within a 10-minute walk of the hospital, but Planning has requested that sites up to one kilometre away are also looked at.
Policy & Resources President Deputy Peter Ferbrache admitted this has “placed a different perspective on the application” in response to written questions from Deputy Yvonne Burford, President of Scrutiny.
Progress with the application, which was personally signed off by Deputy Ferbrache, now appears to have slowed with government focus and resources being directed at other housing projects which will come to fruition sooner than the valley field project.
HSC has been approached for comment.
The plans provoked controversy when published, racking up over 300 public representations, and will require an open planning meeting if progressed.
Pictured: Deputy Burford has been consistently opposed to the concept of building on the valley field.
A request for further information from Planning to HSC came earlier this year to clearly explain and justify the requested site in terms of its distance from the hospital to properly satisfy planning laws.
“The Committee understands from the letter received from the Authority that it does not consider that a 10-minute walking distance as established by [Health] is a suitable basis to eliminate potential sites located beyond such distance from consideration,” Deputy Ferbrache said.
But he claimed that a detailed site selection study is not a requirement of the application process, with P&R advised such evidence “can” assist the Planning in its decision to approve or reject such an application.
Such “technical evidence” rationalising the application in the context of other possible sites has not yet been prepared or disclosed. A recent prioritised list of public land that could become housing provides some clarity over alternative sites for the homes, Deputy Ferbrache said.
P&R has not “actively progressed” with the plans but he insisted the senior Committee remains undeterred in efforts to provide more key workers homes to cut back on “exorbitant” costs for agency health staff.
This includes the recent purchases of Braye Lodge Hotel and the CI Tyres site where at least 100 homes for key workers could be built between the two. The Committee is also seeking wider States support to invest in homes and flood defences at The Bridge which will “very likely” include some units for key workers.
P&R is also seeking to buy a property it has leased for several critical health staff “for some years” after it went on the market. Deputy Ferbrache said the rental income stream and appreciation in property value makes it a sensible investment.
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