This Is Guernsey

By Gemma Hockey

GUERNSEY’S planning process will cripple the economy if government does not act on an independent inquiry commissioned by the Policy Council, it was claimed.

Businessman Peter Kaufman Kent (pictured), the man behind plans to build a Royal Channel Island’s Yacht Club on the Crown Pier,  States-owned land has given full backing to the review of Guernsey’s planning service.

He said the business sector should not be relied upon for the island’s future prosperity.  Mr Kaufman Kent, managing director of Guernsey-based Ironbridge Estates, said the new House would be wise to follow consultant Chris Shepley’s recommendations to separate the planning role of the Environment Department and create a new planning department with its own minister.

‘Much of the island’s business, industrial and tourist industry are highly reliant on an efficient planning process to enable it to expand and prosper.

‘Being actively committed to investing in the island’s tourist industry, I continue to question the wisdom of committing good time and resources to new business investments when I am continually faced with the current dysfunctional planning process,’ he said.

Mr Kaufman Kent, who is responsible for Jersey’s four-star Radisson Hotel, lives here and wants to build a hotel on the Randall’s Brewery site, but his plans have been strangled so far, he claims, by the planning process. The review of Guernsey’s planning service, which was commissioned by the Policy Council reflects his concerns about the structure of government and its part in slowing down the planning process

He would like to see action taken and attitudes change to allow the resources needed to provide an efficient service.

‘From the consultant’s report it is clear that it is totally unreasonable to blame the highly pressured and under-resourced planning officers who are working within the current dysfunctional state of the Environment Department,’ said Mr Kaufman Kent.

‘It must be a first priority of our newly elected politicians to take on board the Shepley report to ensure the current planning process is reorganised and properly resourced in order to build a positive framework in encouraging new investment in our island.

‘In my view planning has become over-dependent on the banking sector for its future prosperity.’

The Shepley report recommends that the new planning law be brought into force now, reviewed after 12 months and changes implemented within three years.

He also suggests the planning responsibility be transferred to a body at the centre of the States.