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WQ.342/2024
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT BY DEPUTY L.K.F. STEPHENSON OF ST. MARY, ST. OUEN AND ST. PETER QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 7th OCTOBER 2024
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 14th OCTOBER 2024
Question
"Will the Minister detail what actions he and his department have undertaken since he took office in January 2024 to develop a play strategy for the Island, with a specific focus on play area provision in St. Helier , as set out in the Bridging Island Plan, and will he further advise what progress, if any, he has made to develop and publish supplementary planning guidance for developers in relation to the provision of play space?"
Answer
Following the change of Government earlier in 2024, this workstream was taken on by the Department for Children, Young People, Education and Skills. All departments have undergone a prioritisation exercise, and it is understood that this work has subsequently been delayed due to resourcing constraints within CYPES.
Similarly, other competing priorities within my own portfolio has meant that the development of supplementary planning guidance for the provision of play space remains to be developed.
What is important to recognise, however, is that the Bridging Island Plan Policy CI8 – Space for children and play establishes the policy requirement for specific provision of children's play space to be made as part of the development of schemes involving ten or more homes. This policy has been in effect since March 2022; and it continues to be implemented where development schemes meet this threshold. In this respect, it is useful to note that play space is being created in the approval of new development schemes, where this threshold is met.[1]
In support of the Government's strategic priority to improve the island's planning service, I have announced my intention to explore potential changes to the rules which govern the need for planning permission. Work is underway to progress this where consideration will be given to the provision of play facilities, subject to conditions, to be exempt from planning control. This work will continue to be progressed, but has the potential to enable the more efficient delivery of new play facilities