Land identified for low key industry

Thursday 22 January 2009

A set of draft proposals to increase new site opportunities for low key industry has been published by the Environment Department. This approach has been formulated in liaison with the Commerce and Employment Department.

This form of industrial development consists of small workshops and/or yards usually required for small-scale service based businesses such as construction related trades, contractors and crafts.

The Consultative Leaflet contains the suggested allocation of carefully selected sites and the creation of policies to enable the use of sites and buildings for such purposes, subject to necessary provisions contained in the Detailed Development Plans.

It recognises the strategic need to identify additional sites established in other States reports – the Strategic Economic Plan (Action Point 8) and Strategic Land Use Plan. (Strategic Policy 12)

Environment Minister, Deputy Peter Sirett, said ‘It is vital that further smaller-scale sites are brought forward to meet current need and potential demand arising from further displacements in the lower industrial range of businesses.

These new proposals form an important component of the Department’s overall approach towards the industrial sector which also comprises of a major release of 15 acres at the Saltpans Key Industrial Area.’

Deputy Carla McNulty Bauer, Minister for Commerce and Employment said ‘The release of more land for small workshops and open storage has been an objective of Commerce and Employment for some time. Small, low key business activities are an important component of the island’s life and these types of businesses have been finding it increasingly difficult to compete for the limited land available within current planning policies. We have been working with the Environment Department to identify how requirements can best be met within corporate environmental and land use planning objectives.

Commerce and Employment welcomes and supports the proposals to release more land for low key activities and would encourage business and the community in general to give a positive response to the consultation process.’

Following the closing date for consultation the Environment Board will consider the responses and approve a final set of allocations and Plan Amendments prior to formal publication in accordance with the Island Development (Guernsey) Laws. A Planning Inquiry to hear relevant representations will be held during the summer following which the States will be requested to confirm the outcomes of that Inquiry.

The Department is inviting comments on the document with all responses to be received by Friday 13th February 2009. Copies of the Consultative Leaflet are available from the Environment Department offices at Sir Charles Frossard House, La Charroterie, St Peter Port.