WATCH: Decision on new hospital could be as late as autumn

Tuesday 27 February 2018

It could be as late as October before a decision is made on new Hospital plans as a second public inquiry may be imminent, a senior States official has revealed.

Richard Glover, the lead planner for Jersey Property Holdings, broke the news to a panel tasked with reviewing plans for the £466million build yesterday.

He said that the team tasked with delivering the project were “quite happy” to have a public inquiry because of the development’s significance for islanders. He added that the team are anticipating an inquiry in September, with a decision on whether to approve the revised hospital plans to be given the following month. 

Original plans to revamp and extend the current Gloucester Street premises were kicked out by the Environment Minister in January following an extensive public review by independent inspector Philip Staddon.

Pictured: Inspector Philip Staddon rejected the hospital for being “over-dominant, obtrusive and alien”. 

In a report, he concluded that the eight-storey newbuild would be too imposing and not in-keeping with the area.

Since then, officials say they have been working on addressing the inspector’s concerns.

Mr Glover stated that good progress was being made on adapting the plans in a way that tackles the previous proposals’ deficiencies whilst also complying with the Island Plan. He said that the revamped version should be submitted to the Planning Department in the week beginning 9 April.

Those revised plans could see the building made lower but 15-20% wider, which might require the States to purchase further properties in Kensington Place.

That “work in progress” was reported to have received a positive reception when shared with the Jersey Architecture Commission last week.

But those proposals will be submitted in the same week as the States are due to debate proposals to review the Future Hospital location.

Video: The Health Minister affirmed that the Gloucester Street site was the best location for the hospital.

During yesterday’s Scrutiny hearing, the Ministers for Health and Infrastructure, Senator Andrew Green and Deputy Eddie Noel, were repeatedly challenged over whether it was still appropriate to build on the current hospital site rather than starting afresh. Both remained adamant, however, that it was.

Senator Senator Andrew Green commented that numerous assessments had already been undertaken on the matter and that there was “no point in going back and getting the same answer to the same question.” He added that it was the “best site” because “after all, there has been a hospital there since about 1700.”

Deputy Noel described the Gloucester Street area, which lies within the St. Helier ring-road, as a “sustainable and accessible” location.

Panel member Deputy John Le Fondré pressed the hospital delivery team on how much of the £27million spent so far on the development had been “wasted.”

“The answer to that is none,” Ray Foster, the States’ Director of Estates, responded.

He said that the “vast majority” of design development and assessment that had been undertaken so far was still “capable of being utilised in the revised scheme.”

Video: Future Hospital Review Panel member Deputy John Le Fondré grills the States' Director of Estates over whether any money has been wasted on the rejected planning application.

The only cost he conceded that may have been ‘lost’ was the planning application fee for the rejected original proposals of around £212,000. 

Closing the hearing, Panel Chairman Deputy Simon Bree explained that “grave concerns” still remained about the plan, but said that he “welcomed the comment that you are to support a public inquiry.” 

The decision over whether a public inquiry should be held ultimately lies with the Minister for the Environment, Deputy Steve Luce, who holds responsibility for Planning matters.