Deputies Defer Decision On 26 Homes

Tuesday, 13 December 2022 08:16

Aerial photo of the Briarwood site courtesy of the States of Guernsey

Politicians on the Planning Authority are divided on a proposed development off the Grande Rue in St Martins.

There was a 50-50 split among Development and Planning Authority members over the decision to allow development on a field in St Martins known as 'Briarwood.'

Deputy Victoria Oliver and Deputy John Dyke voted to approve the planning application.

Deputy Andrew Taylor and Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller voted to defer the application and wanted a viability assessment for Policy GP11.

This states that any development of more than 20 houses should include an proportion that are 'affordable.'

The developers behind Briarwood, which sits adjacent to the St Martin's car park off the Grande Rue, say that building an element of affordable homes wouldn't be economically viable.

The deferred decision means that planners will meet with the developers to look at their costs and also consider access to the site.

Seven people spoke at the Open Planning Meeting and told politicians that they had concerns over the design and style of the proposed development and how it would fit in with the area.

Traffic, parking and the loss of the field were also issues for those making a representation.

Deputy Victoria Oliver, the president of the DPA, thanked the members of the public who made representations:

" We greatly value hearing from different perspectives on these matters which in turn shapes the developments. We will now engage with the developers to consider the way forward.”