Copyright jerseyeveningpost
There’s a reason Planning is known to be perhaps the most controversial States brief. What goes where in an island with limited space is of fundamental importance to our daily lives, our economy, and often our sense of identity. The more sensitive applications are never just about the actual plans lying on the table in front of a small group of elected politicians. They are always about the wider effect those plans might have on Jersey itself; and from there, the controversy freely flows. As a result, members of the Planning Committee have a set of rules to follow – currently the Bridging Island Plan – although the fact these decisions are still taken by humans, and not yet AI, tells us that there is still a considerable degree of latitude, of interpretation, of freewill in the way those rules are applied; otherwise what is the point of having people making them at all? Its members face an impossible choice – agree the Strive Hotel and give a hugely important (some would say identity-defining) industry a much-needed boost; and break the rules protecting against development in the green zone. They will know there is still a route of appeal, passing the decision to the Minister, and perhaps that gave them more comfort in opting for the red rejection pen. If that’s the case, it’s a dangerous game. Essentially this application is about risk. After yesterday’s rejection, someone has to risk more time, expend more energy and money, and pass up other opportunities, to continue backing a project which has now received a very serious setback. They will need to choose. And that concept of risk is important more broadly in what’s happened this week. When times are hard, we tend to accept less risk; the temptation is to go carefully, stick rigidly to the rules, save money, try and avoid any mistakes. Let’s wait for things to improve. That can be sensible…except of course it can also ensure the feared negative outcome actually happens. We have created it through our own negativity and caution. We get what we expect. There seems little doubt that there are real challenges facing Jersey at the moment, and not just in terms of tourism – and many would argue they all ultimately relate to the triumph of rules over risk. The problem here is that we become too cautious, too fearful of getting it wrong. And by doing so, we create the outcome we are trying to avoid.
