Flood Risks Emerge as Primary Concern at Guernsey Harbour Development Meeting

During a public consultation concerning proposed alterations to Guernsey’s harbour zones, the most significant concern articulated was the potential effect of flood hazards on new constructions. The Local Planning Brief, specifically for St Peter Port and St Sampson, proposes eighteen policies pertaining to the harbour vicinities, addressing aspects such as transportation and parking, residential provisions, and fostering an environment centered on people. Among these policies is the establishment of essential flood defences, designed to safeguard “Guernsey’s coast and harbours from current and future environmental threats”. The definitive version of this plan is scheduled for release in April 2025; upon endorsement by the States, it will formally integrate as an amendment into the Island Development Plan. The report elicited responses from members of the public, various stakeholders, and deputies. Deputy Peter Roffey, who serves as the President of Employment & Social Security, was noted among those advocating for the prioritization of coastal protection. Deputy Roffey stated that his primary concern was introducing “affordable housing” to the harbour regions, but he highlighted that the absence of flood defences in St Sampson jeopardizes the “potential for 1,000 new homes”. The DPA, in its reply, recognized that “affordable housing” was not explicitly detailed, yet affirmed that the proposals did not “preclude” its realization. Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, President of Environment and Infrastructure, addressed the topic of flood mitigation within her presentation, indicating that efforts were already in progress. She remarked: “When you are talking about flood risk mitigation – we don’t have 10 years we need to put something in place in the interim.” According to The States of Guernsey, the preliminary Local Planning Brief is designed to offer flexibility for submissions from potential developers. Andrew Merrett from LO Architects stated that his company “supports the vision and ambition” of the brief, but emphasized the necessity of addressing temporary parking requirements in the short term. Furthermore, he advocated for the approval of future permits for constructing taller structures. He concluded by stating: “The document is worthless unless it leads to some form of development.” For updates, follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook. Story ideas can be submitted to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.