Planning permission for Jersey’s new hospital has been refused.

After a report and recommendations by Independent Planning Inspector Philip Staddon, Environment Minister Deputy Steve Luce says he can’t approve the current plans.

Jersey's Health Minister, Senator Andrew Green, says:

“I am naturally disappointed that the outline planning application has not been approved. The inspector has agreed this is the right location for a new hospital, but that the proposed site is too small for the size of building that’s needed. Complex planning permissions of this kind are often the subject of prolonged discussion.”

“I will now take time, with the project team, to study the detail of the inspector’s report so we can plan the next steps.

“Everyone agrees that Jersey needs this new hospital and I am committed to delivering it. We need to work together to see how we can best provide Jersey with this essential facility on the agreed location.”

Jersey's Health Minister, Senator Andrew Green

The inspector recommended that the plans be refused because of ‘serious planning objections’ in three broad areas:

• The serious negative impacts the hospital development would have on the St Helier townscape and the visual amenities of the area

• The detrimental impact on numerous protected heritage assets

• Harm to the amenities of neighbouring residential properties.

The proposed building size was called ‘‘grossly out of scale… an over-dominant, obtrusive and alien structure’.

The site area for the new building has been called ‘far too small’ for the floor space proposed, whilst the design has been described as ‘fundamentally unacceptable’.

Mr Staddon adds ‘these are not measures that can be finessed away by clever design’ at a later stage.

Deputy Luce says he hasn’t taken the decision lightly.

“The inspector is clear – this design, as it stands, would harm the St Helier townscape and our listed buildings and have a serious impact on the homes of people living around the new building. I have reluctantly reached the conclusion that I have to accept the inspector’s recommendation and turn down this application.

“This has been a very difficult decision. I’m conscious that Jersey needs this new hospital, and that an enormous amount of work has gone into this application.

“Looking to the future, the inspector offers support for the view that this is a suitable site for a new hospital – but not with these particular constraints and scope.”