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Across the Island, new homes, facilities and developments take place. Behind all of these are a team ensuring plans are well-designed, sustainable, and most importantly safe.
The Infrastructure and Environment Department’s Planning and Building teams play an important role supporting Islanders, the construction industry, and the wider economy by ensuring plans are suitable for Jersey.
Planning Officer Trainee, Mihaela Popa, said: “Planners care about people and we are passionate about making Jersey a better place to live and work.”
Her work starts at the earliest stage of projects, working with architects and applicants by reviewing drawings, assessing potential issues, and negotiating solutions to align with the Island Plan.
For big projects, such as the build of 37 new affordable homes here in Sion Village, it is important to Mihaela and the Planning team to agree conditions that ensure the community are supported, environmental issues are mitigated, and the applicant is well informed.
Mihaela added: “We must align multiple policy goals, so we’re looking at economic development at the same time as safeguarding community needs. We manage the risks on both sides, work with stakeholders involved in the project, review draft drawings and advise on policy. Once the application is approved, we continue to collaborate with developers ensuring they follow the process.”
And once a planning application has been approved, it’s over to Jack and the team in Building Standards.
Regulation Standards Officer (Building), Jack Brown explains: “Once the planning application has been approved, we get the building application. We go through all the 12 technical guidance documents. This process makes sure that buildings are built to the correct standards, so homes are safer and more comfortable to live in.”
In a process aimed to maximise efficiency, the Planning team and Building team operate in what leaders describe as a “high-five collaboration”. Once Mihaela has supported in getting an application over the approval line, Jack is there to help with the technical standards side of it. This keeps projects moving with momentum.
A service transformed
Over the last year, significant improvements have taken place in Planning Services. Including the quicker processing of applications and becoming more publicly accessible to customers.
Mihaela said: “We regularly get good compliments and the feedback has been really positive, especially around the speed of decisions, and the availability of planners to have discussions especially in the pre-application process. It means we’re able to grant planning permission almost 90% of the time!
“We established an industry partnership board and have ongoing dialogue with professionals about how we can continue to improve our services. We also published a Customer Charter, have a regular Planning newsletter, and our online agent forums are generally well attended. We’re really proud.”
Supporting construction and the economy
Both teams take pride in the support they provide to Jersey’s construction industry.
Jack highlights: “We’re not trying to put a hurdle into the process, it’s all about helping to ensure work can progress while meeting the Bye-Laws and technical guidance requirements.
“We aim to get applications processed in a timely manner, we’re available to be contacted and to carry out site inspections, and provide our support to prevent construction projects being delayed.”
When talking about parks and cycle routes, Mihaela adds: “Everywhere you go around the Island, you’ll see things that have been negotiated through the Planning system.”
“I enjoy seeing a development move from a concept design into reality. In Jersey, developments can feel personal and the neighbouring impact is high, so when we see a project finalised and we visit on site, it’s rewarding.”
Jack explains how the variety of projects and applications is what he enjoys: “One day you may be at someone’s house looking at an extension, the next day you could be at a school or a big housing development site. All the different projects come with their rewards and challenges.”
The Planning and Building teams share a deep sense of responsibility towards the Island. They are guided by policy, are transparent, and have a genuine desire to help.
Across the Island, from the home we wake up in, to the office we work in, the park or café where we take our lunch, the gym we visit, the shop we stop into, the schools our families rely on, and even the roads and pathways we travel back home to at the end of the day – it’s all been touched in one way or another by the Planning and Building Services.
While a huge amount of the work isn’t visible and takes place behind the scenes, the efforts of the teams ensure everything we see meets expectations of safety, sustainability, accessibility, good design, and placemaking. Their commitment is Keeping the Island Running every minute of the day around the whole of Jersey.