Airport decision put off

Monday 24 February 2014

The Environment Minister has delayed deciding whether to let the Airport knock down the old 1937 arrivals hall which they say is in breach of international safety rules.

Deputy Rob Duhamel deferred the decision on the demolition application by the Economic Development department at a hearing today, saying he wants them to go back and look at alternatives. The department say that modern international safety laws mean the building is too close to the runway, and that if it does not come down, the regulator will impose restrictions that will cause delays and cancellations.

Action by the regulator could mean that the Airport cannot have planes on the runway and taxiway at the same time, and that on foggy days the decision-height – at which a descending pilot must decide whether to land or abort and try again – will go up from 200 feet to 500 feet. Both of those restrictions would increase flight delays and cancellations, and would have a major effect on tourist charter flights in the summer.

The demolition application has been on hold since 2010, but the advice from Planning officers is that the building should come down.

Just weeks ago, Deputy Duhamel classified the building as a Grade 2 Listed Building on the basis that it was “a rare example of airports first built in the early days of air travel”.

Also listed for decisions today were Dandara’s plans for a new office building next to the Grand Hotel on the Esplanade, and a plan to knock down a house on Petite Route des Mielles in St Brelade and build three flats there instead. Both applications had the support of the Planning department, although it is the minister's job to make the final decision.