Planners underestimated flooding

The report recommends public consultation should be made clearer

States planning officials underestimated the flooding issues at a site in Jersey where 102 new homes were built, according to a report.

The Bel Royal site - also known as Goose Green Marsh - has flooded on many occasions over the years.

Campaigners in St Lawrence claimed it should not have been rezoned for homes.

The report, by a committee of inquiry, said the planners' assessment of drainage on the site as "fair" was, "with hindsight", an understatement.

The original application in September 2005 by Dandara was to build 130 homes.

Spring storms

This was rejected by planners because of concerns about the number of homes for the land's size. A subsequent application for 102 homes was approved in March 2007.

The committee of inquiry report said the majority of parishioners believed the site would be considered unsuitable for housing due to the flooding issues.

"They clearly did not anticipate the States would decide to rezone the land; yet once the land had been rezoned, as night follows day, planning permission was going to be given for development," the report said.

The area was flooded during storms in March this year.

The report has also recommended the public consultation process should be made clearer and more precise so islanders had confidence their views were being listened to.