A LEADING businessman has criticised Guernsey’s ‘archaic’ planning system. Peter Kaufman Kent, MD of Guernsey-based Ironbridge Estates which has invested more than £45m. in Jersey’s new Radisson Hotel, spoke out after the IoD conference on whether Guernsey is truly business-friendly.

‘Everybody is trying as hard as they can, but for some reason the system just doesn’t work,’ he said.

‘I cannot tell you why. This is for the politicians to stop and ask the question.

‘I think it starts with the ﾓcan’t doﾔ attitude here and there has to be room for a ﾓcan doﾔ attitude.

‘As soon as you introduce a ﾓmaybeﾔ system, it grinds to a halt.’

Mr Kaufman Kent, has sponsored a design competition for a new yacht clubhouse on the Crown Pier.

The Royal Channel Islands Yacht Club’s headquarters will be on the site of the public toilets and yachtsman’s showers.

Mr Kaufman Kent has lived in Guernsey for 12 years and said it was important for local business to contribute to established institutions in the island.

‘The business community was, at the IoD debate, asked to stand up and be counted. Well, we are standing up and being counted,’ he said.

Mr Kaufman Kent’s competition will see graduate architects at London firm EPR design a new clubhouse for the RCIYC.

‘My company did the preliminary design work for St Sampson’s marina which we gave to the Harbour Authority and formed the basis of its application. We did all the conceptual design for which we made no charge. I think it was something that needed to be done and we had the in-house experts to do it.’

The club will incorporate the existing amenities and offer a social area, meeting room and office space.

Mr Kaufman Kent said that three of the 20-plus architects’ designs would be shortlisted and put on public display in Guernsey.

‘Some of the designs may be traditional, others may be modern, but it will be up to people in the end to judge what they like and guide the planners as to what they want,’ he said yesterday.

The lease on the RCIYC’s present headquarters runs out at the end of the year. It will then move to an as-yet undecided temporary home.

The club’s commodore, Matthew Henry, said that the clubhouse had been provisionally approved.

‘The planning officers said yes in principle but they said, ﾓWe need a wow buildingﾔ,’ he said.

‘We are clearly open-minded about the design and that is basically what the planning department has asked us to do.

‘I would like to see something that the island can be proud of and further enhance yachting and tourism in Guernsey.’