Development of Redundant Glasshouse sites

Development of Redundant Glasshouse sites

Development of Redundant Glasshouse Sites

Having settled into a pan-island routine of waiting for fog to clear or for busted Flybe planes to be fixed, ‘every cloud’ as they say, has given me time to reflect on Guernsey’s Island Development Plan. The forward Planning Department has been particularly busy of late and at last they seem to have realised that the Island is littered with redundant greenhouses.

Even more impressive, they have actually penned some policies which appear to offer landowners incentives to clear these bloney eyesores; although, I am led to believe this is quite costly, at £30k per hectare. With my nose now hard pressed to the Flybe window, I can see that the majority of glasshouses are in the countryside.

There it is, Policy OC7 - Redundant Glasshouse Sites Outside of the Centres. If you’re determined enough to read the IDP written statement, make sure that you also read the small print that supports each policy.

The bad news is that the Planners do not want wholesale development of the majority of glasshouse sites, and certainly not if within, or adjacent to, a site zoned on the IDP proposals map as an agricultural priority area. Similarly, if the cleared site would contribute to a wider area of open land, you've probably had your chips!

The good news is that for small enclosed glasshouse sites, there are now development possibilities, provided it's small scale, with industrial use or storage being a good bet.

In a similar vein, Policy GP15 - Creation and Extension of Curtilage is also on the happy list for these sites - breaking a long-established taboo for such proposals.

Of course, each and every site will be considered on its own merits but it might well be worth having a closer look at www.gov.gg or even better, contact me at PF+A and get some input for your particular site.

If you’re digitally savvy you can even use Facebook Messenger.

Look out for my next blog post on building across our islands which is coming soon!

Luv

PBF

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Ollie Muston MCIAT

E: ollie.muston@pfaarchitecture.com

T: 01481 712633

Having been educated and grown up in Guernsey and developing a passion for technical design work, information technology and an intrigue for building design and history during his GCSE years, Oliver decided to commence his career in 1999 as an Architectural Technologist with Lovell Ozanne one of the largest architectural practices in the Channel Islands,  During those first inspiring 9 years he gained his BTEC HNC qualification increasing his fundamental experience and developing his knowledge base by working on multi-million pound commercial and residential developments including, Mixed Use and Redevelopment Areas (MURA), offices, apartments and industrial units.  

Moving to the States of Guernsey’s Property Services Team in 2008, Oliver was able to learn invaluable working skills and practices, increasing his expanding skillset in tendering and contract administration, whilst having the opportunity to work on public buildings and the differing challenges brought about by these types of projects. These projects encompassed education premises, States buildings with high security requirements, projects at the airport and harbours and fully accessible health facilities.  Full Accessibility audits for the health facilities became a prominent project for Oliver as his career progressed and he carried out a number of audits and reports for substantial business within the Island.

Now with a total of 21 years’ experience within the industry, his expansive knowledge not only covers all areas of a very vast field, but includes all aspects of a project from inception right through to the final handover of a completed project; which, for Oliver is the most rewarding experience. 

Oliver’s exceptional wealth of knowledge has lead him to gain his chartership with the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists and was formally invited to become an Interview Assessor for the Institute in 2015, a position limited to only a small number and in which someone can only be invited by the Institute.  Oliver completed the necessary assessor training a few months later.  

Ever striving to continue growing and expanding his professional knowledge, Oliver is a driven member of PF+A and one of the top in his field. With his professional yet friendly approachable nature he is an individual able to facilitate and communicate to clients, contractors, sub-contractors and other third parties to ensure that a project is always the best it can be.  Internally an exceptional trainer to the less experienced members of the team with an ease of teaching methods to ensure an unseamingly level of continuity for their development.

In his spare time Oliver enjoys spending time with his young family of three daughters, experiencing travelling and cultural diversity and of course Guernsey’s beautiful outdoor environment.

Chloe Whitmore

E: chloe.whitmore@pfaarchitecture.com

T: 01481 712633

Chloe is the first point of contact in the Guernsey studio. She has moved from a career of more than 20 years in the legal profession to managing a creative environment and its people - a welcome change for her! Her experience and legal background are a great asset for the Group.