Island Plan 2022-25: Approval (P.36/2021) – ninety-fourth amendment. Policy CI1: Education facilities - consolidated

STATES OF JERSEY

ISLAND PLAN 2022-25: APPROVAL (P.36/2021) – NINETY-FOURTH AMENDMENT

POLICY CI1 EDUCATION FACILITIES - CONSOLIDATED

Lodged au Greffe on 11th February 2022 by the Minister for the Environment

STATES GREFFE

2021  P.36 Amd. (94)

ISLAND PLAN 2022-25: (P.36/2021) – NINETY-FOURTH AMENDMENT ____________

PAGE 2 –

After the words "the draft Island Plan 2022-25" insert the words "except that within Policy CI1 - Education facilities -

1. after the words "Mont à L'Abbé School:", the words "part of" should be deleted;
2. after the words "field 782 St. Ouen ", there should be inserted the following words -

"Proposals for education facilities outside the built–up area or designated sites will not be permitted except in the most exceptional circumstances where the proposed development is required to meet a proven island need and it can be demonstrated that:

1. the  development  is  essential  to  the  delivery  and  continuation  of education services and cannot reasonably be met through alternative sites, service delivery arrangements or co-location with other services; and
2. sufficient work has been undertaken to consider reasonable alternative sites for the development and the selected site represents the most sustainable option, with the focus on accessibility to the community relative to the defined spatial strategy, local demand, its impact on the character and nature of the landscape and the scale of development that may be required."; and

4. the Draft Bridging Island Plan Proposals Map Part A – Planning Zones be amended to reflect the adoption of paragraph (a).

MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Note:  After this amendment, the proposition would read as follows –

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

to approve, in accordance with Article 3(1) of the Planning and Building (Jersey) Law 2002, as amended by the Covid-19 (Island Plan) (Jersey) Regulations 2021, the draft Island Plan 2022-25, except that –

within Policy CI1 - Education facilities -

1. after the words "Mont à L'Abbé School:", the words "part of" should bedeleted;
2. after the words "field 782 St. Ouen ", there should be inserted the following words -

"Proposals for education facilities outside the built–up area or designated sites will not be permitted except in the most exceptional circumstances where the proposed development is required to meet a proven island need and it can be demonstrated that:

1. the  development  is  essential  to  the  delivery  and  continuation  of education services and cannot reasonably be met through alternative sites, service delivery arrangements or co-location with other services;and
2. sufficient work has been undertaken to consider reasonable alternative sites for the development and the selected site represents the most sustainable option, with the focus on accessibility to the community relative to the defined spatial strategy, local demand, its impact on the character and nature of the landscape and the scale of development thatmay be required."; and

4. the Draft Bridging Island Plan Proposals Map Part A – Planning Zones beamended to reflect the adoption of paragraph (a).

REPORT

The bridging Island Plan seeks to make provisions for the island's essential community infrastructure, which includes the provision of schools and education facilities.

In seeking to make such provision, however, there is a need to ensure that this accords with the most sustainable pattern of development in the island. Further amendment to the plan by the Minister seeks to both enhance the level of specific provision at Mont à L'Abbé School, in response to an identified need; and to ensure that the planning policy framework for the assessment of education facilities is appropriate and robust.

Mont à L'Abbé School

The draft bridging Island Plan already makes provision to safeguard part of field H1256 to enable the provision a secondary special educational needs school at this site. As further work to consider the delivery of the school has been undertaken, it has become apparent that the safeguarding of the field in its entirety is justifiable to better provide for both access to the existing primary school and proposed new secondary school, whilst also providing an appropriate level of outdoor space for the primary school. Further detail in relation to this matter is provided in the Minister's post-consultation statement response (see SR09 - Policy CI1 - Field H1256 – Mont à L'Abbé increase in safeguarded education site designation).

The proposal has been examined by independent planning inspectors who consider it to be  a  prudent  approach  and  have  recommended  that  it  be  given  effect  (see Recommendation 34 of their report (p. 59)).

The site affected by this proposed amendment is defined at appendix 1. Policy CI1 – Education facilities

The policy, as it appears in the draft plan, does not currently provide consideration to enable the specific consideration of proposals for education facilities outside the built- up area or designated sites. This was an unintentional omission.

The Minister is proposing amendment, as set out in his post-consultation response (see PCR6, p.6) to address this omission and to ensure that this policy is consistent with others dealing with the provision of key community facilities, such as healthcare, as set out at CI2 – Healthcare facilities.

This proposed change is considered sensible by the planning inspectors and the change is recommended by them (see Recommendation 34 of their report (p. 59)).

Financial and manpower implications

There are no direct financial and manpower implications.

CRIA statement

The effect of this amendment is in positive alignment with the Minister's published CRIA, to ensure adequate education provision exists across the island, for all children.

Appendix 1