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Mr. President, members, guests, thank you for inviting me back to address the Chamber. It’s been a few years now since I last spoke here, so I was delighted to accept this opportunity to update you all on what’s happening inside what some might view as the “poison chalice Ministry”….Perhaps surprisingly, I don’t see it that way. When I was here last I said “I see opportunities, not challenges”…and, while it sounds pretty desperate to have to resort to quoting yourself, I still see things that way. I regard it as a privilege to serve as the island’s Environment Minister and an opportunity to work to enable and to deliver, through my broad and varied portfolio, positive change for a better island.
Those were the words that I used as my opening paragraph 8 years ago….and so I’m getting a sense of deja vu here… but looking back through that speech, many ‘opportunities’ remain… we have made real progress but there is much to build on.
So I am here today to talk about planning matters, and first of all, to specifically tell you about the progress we are making to provide the island with a more efficient and effective planning system.
When the Chief Minister asked me if I would accept an invitation to return to the Executive as Environment Minister he gave me one particular goal to achieve for him….to reform the planning service. This is a key priority for government – and I’m sure it is also of real importance to many in the room here today – and while reforming the planning service may sound a whole lot easier than it actually is, I am delighted to report that there has been some real positive change in the last 12 months.
In the Planning Services Focus document that I published in June last year, I set out key targets and I am pleased to say that many of these have already been achieved, and embedded, in the practices of the planning team.
First, the introduction of Planning Processing Agreements for some larger applications has allowed greater certainty for applicants and officers alike, and it’s a really useful tool for setting the timescales for deciding on those bigger schemes.
Second, feedback suggests that, for the most part, our refreshed and enhanced pre-application advice service is proving to be effective for many applicants. The opportunity to discuss the key considerations up front, before the submission of an application, provides a great opportunity to narrow down potential challenges and constraints. Improvements in the approval rates, and a higher number of applications decided within time, point to this new initiative working well. Our team is dedicated to continue improving this service to give applicants the best possible chance of a positive outcome, whilst making the formal application process quicker.
When I took on this role last year, I committed to listening to Islanders and working closely with industry professionals. That’s why I set out a clear framework for improvement, defining priorities to ensure progress was achievable, measurable, and impactful.
In the short term, we have delivered tangible changes. From simplifying processes for minor applications to improving customer service and ensuring greater transparency with quarterly statistics reporting, we’ve made the system easier and more responsive for Islanders.
One of the most immediate challenges I faced when I became Minister was addressing delays in planning determinations. These hold ups frustrated applicants and slowed down progress across the Island. That’s why we made it a priority to streamline processes, and introduce new measures like regular case review meetings and refined committee procedures.
So here’s some very boring, but oh so important, statistics for you. At the start of 2024, when I became Minister, only 67% of applications were being determined within their target timeframe. By September, we had reached 85%, our highest level of performance for the year, and we’ve maintained that consistently above 80% in subsequent months. This progress demonstrates not only the success of the reforms we’ve introduced but also the dedication of the planning team in driving these improvements.
But, unsurprisingly, the past year has been a mix of progress and challenge. While applications in 2024 decreased slightly – down 4.5% from 2023, we achieved an 11% increase on determinations, delivering 1293. This shows that despite external pressures, we’ve worked smarter to handle a higher volume of applications, and to deliver those decisions. The planning team worked hard in Q2 last year to significantly reduce the number of pending planning applications, down from 347 in February 2024, to around 270 in April 2024, and then to below 250 by July 2024 – a level that has been maintained since…a 28% improvement on applications waiting to be decided.
Approval rates also remained consistently strong throughout the year, averaging over 80%, with minor applications over 90% in recent weeks. This reflects our focus on enabling high- quality development that aligns with the Island Plan and meets the needs of our community. As mentioned earlier, it is my belief that the enhanced pre-application service has contributed to improvements in approval rates as well as increasing the number of applications decided in time.
Our new Industry Partnership Board, of which many are Chamber members, is now well established, meeting every two months and helping us to maintain a proper, open conversation with a representative group of experts in the field.
Feedback from the board has provided valuable insights, and I am briefed on the concerns and suggestions from the Board after every meeting.
Now, you won’t have missed, that the new Government office is open, and the planning team is now embedded on the 3rd floor. The regular ‘duty officer service’ is also now available, as I promised it would be. The new building is now hosting our Planning Committee Meetings, with work underway on the refinement of committee procedures and processes.
I hope this short summary demonstrates my commitment to service improvement. There is more to be done, we are not complacent, and the hard work will continue.
My team are all committed and passionate people, and I’m proud to work with them. Yes, there are always challenges…but we always find the necessary compromise….provided of course it’s one I agree with. seriously though, I’d like to think we use common sense to come to practical solutions.
The progress we’ve made in 2024 demonstrates that we are on the right path. From reducing delays to fostering collaboration and maintaining high approval rates, we’ve shown that a strong, fair, and efficient planning system is possible. My commitment remains to build on this foundation. Planning matters because it’s about creating a better Jersey – not just for today, but for the generations to come.
That first section was about planning matters concerning our improvements in the last 12 months, but now I want to talk about why planning matters to us all.
Planning decisions are when sometimes competing objectives about supporting the economy, delivering homes and protecting the built and natural environment that we all enjoy need to be weighed. I spent a lot of time thinking about the economy over the Christmas break, and I’m announcing here today that I would like to see more weight being given to economic matters in the decision-making process.
To do this, it is important to have a discussion, with as many interested stakeholders as possible, about what people think might already work well, and what might be appropriate to change.
So, the first aspect of the review, that I will undertake this Summer, will be to consider what work requires, or does not require, the benefit of planning permission. Clearly, if there is no need to seek planning permission, then there is no need to engage with the planning process, and this has the potential to deliver benefit for householders and for business as well as for government, who will no longer need to process and assess as many planning applications.
Secondly, I want to look at the island’s appeal process. This has been in place now for about ten years, without any substantive review. So it’s timely to do so.
The introduction of limited third-party appeals was a contentious element of the original appeals process at the time.
Should this element remain? Should it be broadened? And should other planning decisions be exposed to third party appeal rights? These are all issues to be considered.
The last part of the wider planning reform agenda concerns the Island Plan itself. The form of the Island Plan – where we have one written document supported by a plan – has remained the same for a very long time.
Some might regard the Island Plan as simple and accessible, where everything is in one place and where the whole is reviewed at the same time. Others might consider it unwieldy, inaccessible and unresponsive to change.
I want to look at whether there might be some change to the form of the plan that might benefit Jersey, where there might be potential to speed up the plan-making process. Finally, I want to ask if making policy changes between plans should be easier to achieve. So we are working hard, and looking ahead, to provide a planning system that best enables development to happen, and to provide you with greater clarity about what is likely to get consent.
I have, yesterday, announced two small changes that I have made to existing guidance that, I hope, will continue to better enable development to happen.
The first is that I am removing the 3,000sq ft floorspace standard for the development of larger homes. There is a perception that this serves as an absolute prohibition on the development of new, the redevelopment of existing, or the extension of, existing homes. I do not consider this parameter to be particularly necessary or helpful. Instead, proposals for the development of larger homes will be considered against the existing provisions in the plan that deal with the size and visual impact of new or extended dwellings.
Second, I am revising the guidance about the replacement of plastic windows and doors in grade 3 and 4 listed buildings. I want to allow greater flexibility in the use of materials where existing plastic windows and doors are being replaced, which might include the use of composite materials. In all other respects, replacement windows should match the original historic windows as far as possible. In this way, I think we can better deliver against our objectives for energy efficiency whilst, at the same time, delivering a betterment to the character and appearance of grade 3 and 4 listed buildings, by replacing inappropriate plastic windows with something better.
So I want to continue to work to ensure that the BIP, and supporting guidance, can enable positive change to take place.
But attention does also need to turn to the review of the island plan itself, and the preparation of the evidence base that will be needed to inform the development of the next island plan. Work on this has already started.
Before we get to that next Island Plan debate, we have infrastructure challenges around the disposal of liquid and solid waste.
Similarly, I have sought to prioritize my own work to develop a comprehensive water strategy for the island, which will need to include an assessment of how best to meet the island’s future need for a reliable and resilient water supply. This work is underway.
I am working with MSED to ensure that greater consideration and weight is given to the economic value of development proposals in the planning application process; and I will, later this year, be commencing work to develop the west of island planning framework. This work will seek to identify what opportunities exist to support development – both residential and commercial – in this part of the island, to help inform the next plan.
While I intend to publish an update on the performance of the BIP to date, hopefully in March 2025 around the third anniversary of its approval, the remainder of this term of government provides us with an opportunity to gather evidence to inform future change to enable the next administration to develop a new Island Plan at the start of its term. Until then, implementation of the BIP, and its supporting framework of supplementary planning guidance, provides us with a sound framework with which to enable positive change for Jersey.
As I conclude, I’d like to very quickly talk about why planning matters to wider government and the States Assembly. One of the most significant commitments made by the States Assembly is our pledge to achieve net zero by 2050. Not a day passes without the consequences of a changing climate making headlines. That is why this Government has prioritised the climate emergency as one of its key strategic objectives. Our mission is clear: to reduce Jersey’s contribution to climate change while ensuring resilience for future generations.
We have a plan, and have made great strides in our journey towards a more sustainable future. The success of the Electric Vehicle Purchase Incentive, which brought approximately 1,200 electric vehicles to our roads in the last two years is a good example.
Furthermore, an increased Government grant of up to £9,000 for heat pumps will encourage their adoption, fostering the development of a more sustainable energy market.
Our offshore wind ambitions are progressing at pace. Wind energy presents a transformative opportunity for Jersey, both economically and environmentally.
Alongside this, we are committed to managing the environmental risks posed by PFAS and ensuring that robust measures are in place to protect both public health and our natural resources. Working with our independent PFAS panel, I want Jersey to become world leaders in solving the challenging PFAS issues.
To accompany this, a long-term Water Strategy is in development to address critical issues such as water quality, availability and flood risk, ensuring that Jersey is well-equipped to manage the challenges of the future. At the same time, we recognise that energy security is crucial, and we will continue to work with Island Energy on our use of gas and its infrastructure.
Another crucial step in forward planning is our Marine Spatial Plan. By talking to all those who rely on our marine environment, we can prioritise sustainable use and protect our ecosystems. If we get it wrong, we risk squandering vital resources and undermining the well-being of our community. If we get this right, our fisheries and marine industries will thrive, securing livelihoods and preserving our natural heritage.
Our relationships with the UK, France, and the wider EU are critical to ensuring that trade remains frictionless and that regulatory changes reflect the unique scale of Jersey’s economy.
Our Climate Change Engagement team is leading the way, ensuring that carbon reduction and climate resilience remain at the heart of decision-making for years to come.
With all these major projects to consider, the road before us is long, and the challenges ahead are complex. However, through strategic planning, and international collaboration, we will create a Jersey that is prepared for the future—one that is resilient, prosperous, and environmentally responsible. We are making progress, but we must not be complacent.
I get a huge number of emails every day, but I know things must be improving because I had one last week from someone in the development industry who actually apologised to me. They said they were sorry that I had ever become Planning Minister. Seriously though, you do need a thick skin to do this job but provided you realise you can’t please everyone all the time, you might just survive. I came into politics, not because I wanted the pay cut, but because I wished to be involved in the big-ticket items and I am currently doing that. Gas, energy, water, PFAS, ferries, marine spatial plans, wind farms, not forgetting my business as usual portfolio of everything encompassing the natural environment, the met office and all of regulation… planning and building and finally the Jersey Care Commission. I’m at the top table for all of these subjects, and leading on many of them – Who could wish for more? I still get out of bed, every morning, looking forward to the day ahead.
Thank you for listening, my phone is always on and my email address is available on the states website. My motto is, and always has been, ‘working together’ and I look forward to continuing to work with Chamber in these last 18 months before the election.