Thursday 05 December 2019
An Action Plan is only worthy of that name if the actions are undertaken.
In the 6 months since the Development & Planning Authority's Action Plan was finalised, the D&PA is pleased to confirm many of those actions have been completed and the rest are on track for completion by the end of June 2020 as planned.
Today the Dashboard is being published. This is a snapshot of the most frequently asked statistics such as the number of planning permissions and completions in a given area and the number of affordable homes that have had planning permission. The Dashboard can be found online at www.gov.gg/dpfacts. This is part of the D&PA's commitment to improve communication and follows on from the initial presentations on Community Plans and "The Best Way to Have Your Say" and the publication of FAQs.
The Action Plan included 14 actions in total, the most important of which was the expansion of subjects to be covered under the 5 year review of some policies of the Island Development Plan (IDP). As set out in the IDP, this review was to cover housing and employment land supply but was extended to consider how brownfield sites might be prioritised before greenfield, re-examining the extent of Important Open Land in the Main Centres, Agriculture Priority Areas, assessing the effect of land-banking, Affordable Housing and the effectiveness of Policy GP11 and also change of use of visitor accommodation. Another action was for the threshold and use of Development Frameworks to be reconsidered.
As was set out in the timeline produced in July 2019, the research and evidence gathering for the IDP 5 year review has started and initial consultation begun. It is anticipated draft amendments to the IDP should be ready for statutory consultation in Quarter 4 of 2020 and the final draft amendments are due to return to the Assembly by November 2021.
Another important action was commissioning the drafting of the Development Frameworks for the four Regeneration Areas starting with Leale's Yard. The D&PA is pleased to announce that preparation of this Framework has commenced and includes opportunities for the public to have a say in early 2020.
The D&PA has also written to several Committees regarding how the IDP policies may facilitate their on-going work such as the development of a Tourism Strategy and a Long Term Infrastructure Investment Plan, implementing the findings of the Red Tape Audit and placing the 15mph speed limit of Ruettes Tranquilles on a statutory footing. The D&PA continues with productive discussions with the Committees on this. The D&PA is also meeting with officers from other service areas such as Traffic and Highways to discuss local infrastructure requirements and how we can put the information we have to better use.
Looking forward to the next election, the D&PA has also discussed with SACC the training for new deputies including on quasi-judicial matters. Finally, the scoping of the Policy Letter looking at potential changes to the Land Planning legislation is being progressed and will be discussed by the D&PA in December.
As well as listening to all those who voice their views on planning, we are continuing with our discussions with invited guests such as the Douzaines and those interested in energy conservation. Mitigating climate change and working with the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure is of prime importance to the D&PA over the next few months.
Deputy Dawn Tindall, President of the Development & Planning Authority, said:
"In June 2019 when the D&PA's Action Plan was published, we set out actions to be done by the end of this political term. I am pleased to confirm that we are on track for their completion. As a result of the excellent work of the planning officers, this D&PA will also aim to ensure a smooth transition to the next so that there is no delay to the work needed for the 5 year review."
The presentation slides and videos of the 'Best Way to Have Your Say' presentation can be found online at www.gov.gg/comment_on_an_application.
The Frequently Asked Questions can be found online at www.gov.gg/amr.
