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The independent planning inspector who will recommend if a new hospital should be built at Overdale or not looks set to consider the demolition of existing buildings as part of April’s public inquiry.
There had been a question mark over whether Philip Staddon should include the destruction of 20 buildings at the current hospital on Westmount in his terms of reference after a planning application to knock them down was refused earlier this month.
Campaigners against the new hospital being built there had argued that, following the refusal by the Planning Committee, a separate application for demolition should be resubmitted.
The Planning Department and the Our Hospital project team, however, told a ‘pre-inquiry’ meeting on Friday that the main application to build the hospital - which Mr Staddon will assess - was for the “redevelopment” of the site, so it was self-evident that existing buildings would have to go beforehand.
Mr Staddon agreed, saying: “I am left thinking, had I looked at this application as a Jersey citizen, it is clearly looking at plans in the round and is a comprehensive redevelopment project of the whole site.
“I am clear, therefore, that the application I am considering does involve removal of all buildings.”
As a potential compromise, the Government’s Head of Land and Development, Peter Le Gresley, said that planning officers would sit down with the applicant, senior civil servant Andy Scaite, on Monday to reword the description of the main application.
Pictured: More than 20 buildings are earmarked for demolition in and around Overdale.
Currently, it specifically excludes the demolition of the 20 buildings included in the now-refused separate application.
Mr Staddon agreed with his approach, but added that he would accept submissions from anyone wishing to comment on the demolition of existing buildings.
Friday’s meeting also heard that Government policy officers will be updating the Bridging Island Plan amendment by amendment in order to get it ready for the public inquiry on the new hospital - due to start just a week after the debate is scheduled to conclude.
Mr Le Gresley made a commitment that the final wording of the policies contained in the three-year plan would be ready in time for the week-long inquiry to begin on 4 April.
This was after concerns were raised by members of the public that a completed draft would not be available in time for Mr Staddon to begin the inquiry.
The Bridging Island Plan - which will be the document against which all planning decisions will be judged until 2025 - has attracted the most amendments ever to a States proposition.
So far, there are 99 - smashing the previous record of 58, which was for the 2011 Island Plan, which lasted for a decade rather than three years.
And more are expected to come in from Environment Minister John Young, who has until next Monday to make his own changes.
There are plenty of ‘amendments to amendments’ too, which all receive their own debate.
Fears were raised by former States Greffier Michael de la Haye, who lives off Tower Road, about the planning inquiry’s fairness to all sides.
He told the meeting that it was highly unlikely that States Members would be able to debate the huge number of amendments in the two weeks allocated for the plan.
And even if they did, he added, it would take time for civil servants to determine how each successful amendment would affect other parts of the 366-page plan.
Pictured: Planning inspector Philip Staddon says he will meet residents who think their view will be impacted by the new hospital.
In his terms of reference, Mr Staddon has been instructed by Deputy Young to evaluate the hospital planning application against the Bridging Island Plan.
Mr Le Gresley told the meeting that the BIP became live as soon as it was passed, in whatever form, by the Assembly.
“Policy officers will be updating the plan live so as soon as an amendment is passed, they will be revising the document,” he said. “I have been assured by them that the policies will be available to all parties the following week, in time for the inquiry.”
One late amendment to the plan, lodged by Deputy Inna Gardiner, specifically relates to the policy that earmarks Overdale as the site for the new hospital.
Mr Staddon said it was important that he did have a clear document to work from and he would “have to wait and see” and “consider his next steps” if the debate or a final draft of the plan were delayed in any way.
At the meeting, Mr Staddon also said he would be willing to visit any resident who wanted to demonstrate the impact the hospital development would have on their home. However, no evidence can be presented or opinions given to him during these.
He said he could do this on the mornings of Saturday 2 or 9 April and anyone interested should contact inquiry programme officer Helen Wilson by emailing helen@programmeofficers.co.uk.
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