THERE will not be a public inquiry into the new hospital planning application at Overdale, the Environment Minister has confirmed.
Deputy Steve Luce explained that a public inquiry held in April 2022 has already determined that “the site was the right site for the Hospital development”.
Public inquiries consider major planning applications against the Bridging Island Plan – a blueprint for development across the Island which was approved by politicians in 2022.
The public forum provides an opportunity to explore the planning issues in depth to ensure an application is consistent with policy and is the right decision for Jersey.
Plans for the new acute facility at Overdale were published last month, representing another important step for the New Healthcare Facilities Programme.
But in a ministerial decision made public yesterday, Deputy Luce revealed that he has decided not to hold a public inquiry for the planning application.
In a statement, Deputy Luce explained: “As Islanders may be aware, a public inquiry was held in April 2022, after which planning permission was granted for a new hospital at Overdale.
“At the time, the Planning Inspector’s report to the Environment Minister confirmed the proposal accorded in principle with the Bridging Island Plan Spatial Strategy, and that the site was the right site for the hospital development as confirmed in Policy CI3 of the plan, approved by the States Assembly.
“The built form of the newly proposed Acute Hospital will be constructed wholly within the confines of the existing Overdale site, and results in the retention of Westmount Road and the Jersey Bowls Club, while Fields H1550 and H1552 will be utilised for surface car parking.”
He added that members of the public and other interested parties were welcome to submit their comments regarding the application by writing in or using the online comment feature on the government’s website.
The minister reiterated that the hospital application will be determined in accordance with the usual departmental and Planning Committee processes and procedures.
