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A Senator is pushing to allow the building of affordable homes on derelict glasshouses.
The draft 'Bridging Island Plan', which will define planning policy for the next three years, does not support the redevelopment of redundant and derelict glasshouses for non-agricultural, but Senator Kristina Moore plans to change that.
She will shortly lodge an amendment to the plan, due to be debated over a fortnight next month, calling for derelict glasshouses to be developed, where they are close to settlements and mains services, such as drains and electricity.
Specifically, her amendment proposes that 50% of any site of derelict glasshouses would be allocated for affordable homes, and half would be returned to agricultural use or turned into a community garden.
Senator Moore said: “As we prepare to debate the rezoning of a number of fields across the island in order to provide more affordable homes, it makes sense to resolve the long term issue of derelict glasshouses.
“These sites are dangerous eyesores and I hope that States Members will seize the opportunity to resolve the situation.
“This plan delivers much needed affordable homes, alongside new community gardens, or farmers will be able to return half of the site to agriculture.”
The Environment Minister’s draft plan, however, proposes returning all old and unused glasshouses to agriculture.
Pictured: Senator Kristina Moore wants to amend the Bridging Island Plan to allow derelict glasshouses to be developed on.
Deputy John Young’s draft policy, which was supported by independent planning inspectors reviewing the BIP, says: “When glasshouses are redundant to the horticultural industry or are derelict, they should be removed, and the land restored to agricultural use.
“In only the most exceptional circumstances, the development of derelict glasshouse sites may be considered for other uses, provided that the amount of development is the minimum required to deliver an overall improvement to the landscape character of the countryside through the removal of glasshouses and supporting infrastructure; and the restoration of agricultural land, or an appropriate environmentally-beneficial use.
“Any such proposals must be accompanied by adequate information which demonstrates the redundancy of the glasshouse to the holding and the industry; and details which support and justify the extent of development sought relative to the costs of the removal of the glasshouses.
“Any such development will be conditioned to prevent further changes of use; and if the approved use ceases, that the land will revert to agricultural use.”
Commenting on this, the inspectors said: “A number of those making representations [to their examination in public] argued that glasshouse sites should be seen as brownfield land and used for residential development in preference to rezoning greenfield sites for housing
“It is claimed that there is no realistic chance of redundant glasshouse sites being returned to agricultural use.
“Whatever the merits of this argument, promoting the use of redundant glasshouse sites for housing throughout the island would have an adverse impact on the character of the open countryside and would, to an extent, undermine the sustainability credentials of the Bridging Island Plan.
“The exception to this would be glasshouse sites that are in, or exceptionally closely related to, existing built-up areas.”
Members are due to debate the Bridging Island Plan, which currently has 60 amendments, next month, during a mammoth session scheduled for two weeks.
Controversial aspects of the plan include the proposed rezoning of fields for affordable homes, the extension of La Gigoulande Quarry in St. Peter’s Valley and the extension of the Coastal National Park.
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