Traffic concerns see Pointues Rocques development rejected

Thursday 07 October 2021

A contentious proposed 68 property development in a narrow St Sampson’s lane has been refused by politicians, with members of the DPA citing traffic issues as the main objection.

This isn’t the first-time permission has been denied, with an 83-property version of the development shot down in 2017. It was re-submitted with 68 properties, 16 of which were earmarked as 'affordable' homes.

The Development and Planning Authority voted against the development at an open planning meeting yesterday. Deputies Sasha Kazantseva-Miller, Bob Murray, and Andy Taylor opposed the development, with the Committee’s President Deputy Victoria Oliver and Deputy John Dyke seeking a deferral.

“The biggest issue for me was the traffic impact that the development would have on the immediate vicinity and the wider area of transport and traffic in the north of the island,” said Deputy Taylor.

“Policy is pretty clear that if there is going to be an impact or adverse impact on traffic in the area, it needs to be mitigated and it needs to be demonstrated how you will do that.”

Pictured: “There’s a lot of pros about this development; it was a well put together scheme, you can’t deny that, but there are wider traffic impacts that I just think override the potential benefits that we’d see,” said Deputy Taylor.

Deputy Taylor argued that more needs to be done to address the traffic impact in this part of the island, which is already heavily congested.

“The junction at the halfway filter is already working at capacity. If you combine the cumulative impacts of all the development sites in the area, something needs to be done to address the traffic impact there,” he said.

Furthermore, he lamented the possible loss of biodiversity in the area despite the developers laying the plans in accordance with all biodiversity policies.

“It would be disappointing that there would be such a loss of biodiversity.”

Pictured: The development would’ve required the removal of roadside parking on the Robergerie to improve two-way traffic.

Deputy Oliver sought deferral to get further information from Environment and Infrastructure on the traffic impact in the area.

However, the 3/2 vote saw planning permission denied and the developers now have two choices.

“The developers can either re-submit in six months or appeal the decision,” said Deputy Oliver.

Deputy Taylor said it’ll be a complicated process because the development will impact directly on States’ property.

“It’s a bit of a confusing one, because the applicant doesn’t own all the road. It’s States’ road that’ll be congested, so there needs to be a wider conversation about how those traffic issues will be addressed,” he said.