Framework for St Peter Port and St Sampson’s harbour areas: Drop-in consultation

Later this month, islanders are invited to take part in an online consultation and attend public drop events to share their views on the development of a Local Planning Brief for the St Peter Port and St Sampson Harbour Action Areas.

Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design were appointed by the Development & Planning Authority to prepare the Local Planning Brief and have been engaging with key stakeholders which has revealed a number of core issues and opportunities for further consideration.

Tibbalds would like to test the initial ideas and principles with stakeholders and the wider community, gather feedback on the work undertaken so far, consider any concerns or other opportunities the public may have and ultimately discuss what needs to be included in the Local Planning Brief.

This will be the first of three opportunities that islanders will have to input into this piece of work as it is developed over the course of this year, and at this this stage in the process, nothing is yet set in stone.

The consultation will be launched on 18th March and public drop-in events are scheduled for 21st March from 1-6pm in the Market Building, St Peter Port, and on 23rd March from 10am- 2pm at the Rock Community Church, St Sampson. Members of the public will also be able to have their say here.

The closing date for responses to this consultation is 12 th April. This feedback will help to shape a draft Local Planning Brief.

The draft Local Planning Brief will be published for public consultation in July 2024 prior to being submitted to a public inquiry undertaken by an independent planning inspector. If approved by the States Assembly in early 2025, the Local Planning Brief will set planning policy for the Harbour Action Areas and will coordinate development to maximise the potential of these areas to deliver multiple economic, social and environmental objectives to benefit islanders.

Deputy Victoria Oliver, President of the Development & Planning Authority, said: “The Island Development Plan identifies areas where further detail is required before significant development can take place. For Harbour Action Areas, this detail is provided through the preparation of a Local Planning Brief.

“Local Planning Briefs provide an exciting opportunity to use joined up thinking to bring forward development in areas along our seafront which has not been possible in recent years. This exercise is a fantastic opportunity for the public to have their say on how they would like to see the harbours and surrounding areas enhanced over the coming years, unlocking the potential for significant development in these important areas.”

Hilary Satchwell, Director – Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design, said: “The two Harbour Action Areas in St Peter Port and St Sampson are really important to the way Guernsey functions and we want to make sure that the Local Planning Brief reflects and responds to how they are used now and how they need to be used in the future.

“Our team have spent the last few months understanding what is important about them and now we want to get wider feedback on our early stage ideas for how the Local Planning Brief could support positive change and growth in the future.

“We hope a broad range of people will come along to the consultation events and talk to us about what they value now about the two harbours and what they think they think the Local Planning Brief should include for the two Harbour Action Areas so that they are best able to support the people, environment, and economy of Guernsey over the next 20+ years.”