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The Government says it is ready to fight to keep the vision for an £800m 'health campus' at Overdale alive after its own Planning Department recommended that it be rejected.
Planning concluded that the "harms" outweigh "even the very significant benefits" of the project, but the Minister leading the Our Hospital project said the Government remains committed to it and will be able to demonstrate the reverse at next month's independent planning inquiry.
Planning's comments were published its submission to the inquiry, which is being chaired by an independent inspector who will make a recommendation to the Environment Minister to reject or support the application.
Planning says it cannot support it for several reasons, including the proposed building’s scale, height and design.
Pictured: Planning said the size of the development was a particular issue.
It argues that the application runs counter to a number of policies defined in the yet-to-be-agreed Bridging Island Plan.
Despite this setback, the Government says it is confident that it will prevail, and the hospital will be built, as proposed, at Overdale.
Senator Lyndon Farnham, who chairs of the Our Hospital Political Oversight Group, said: “We note the view of the Planning Department, which highlights the challenges inherent in building a new hospital for Jersey.
“We will be making a full and detailed representation to the independent planning inspector at next month’s public inquiry, where we will demonstrate that the benefits of this new hospital far outweigh the potential impacts.
“We remain committed to delivering the new hospital on time and within budget on the Overdale site, which was approved by a vote of the States Assembly.”
Pictured: Senator Farnham said the Government would be making the case to independent planning inspector Philip Staddon that the benefits of the project are greater than the potential impacts next month.
The week-long planning inquiry, led by inspector Philip Staddon, will start on Monday 4 April. He will review hundreds of documents, submissions and comments, including more than 100 from the public, and make a recommendation to Deputy John Young by 13 May.
The Government hopes that the £804.5m hospital will be open in 2026.
Planning says £800m hospital should be rejected
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