This Is Guernsey

By Simon Tostevin

ENVIRONMENT has rebutted claims it is not making progress on finding land for industry. The department is part of the Strategic Land Planning Group, which is chaired by Public Services minister Bill Bell and includes representatives from Commerce and Employment.

But Environment has taken personally last week’s criticism from Confederation of Guernsey Industry chairman Phil Duquemin.

He claimed there was increased resistance from Environment to meeting industry figures since the changeover in ministers from Deputy Bernard Flouquet to Deputy David De Lisle and that the department was not being flexible in its approach in relation to the expansion of some existing facilities.

‘The Environment Department has carried out a detailed survey of existing industrial land and of land that could

be developed for industry within its current policies,’ said a department spokesman.

‘This work reveals that there are sites which are undeveloped or underused which could be available for prospective industrial development.

‘The department has also asked Commerce and Employment to provide more detailed information on the demand for industrial land so that we can assess any need that cannot be met on existing sites.

‘The department would not wish to be bounced into releasing additional land until the demand side has been properly demonstrated.’

He added that both the Urban and the Rural Area plans contained industry-friendly policies which meant permission for new sites and extensions to existing ones had been granted.

‘For example, building work is currently being carried out at the Pitronnerie Road Industrial Estate and in St George’s Esplanade.

‘In addition, the department has issued a planning brief for a large area of new industrial land at the Saltpans and looks forward to dealing with development proposals in due course.’

The spokesman added that the department was also aware of the needs of other service industries and had supported the provision of temporary compounds at Belgrave Vinery.

‘The department intends to bring forward an amendment to the Belgrave Vinery Outline Planning Brief - necessitating a short planning inquiry in the usual way - in the near future to allow further temporary use of an additional part of this site.’