What a disappointing response from the minister to the Hospital Review Panel’s report. He accuses the Panel (that I chair) of assessing the government’s business case for the new hospital facilities as if it were an NHS hospital, ignoring the Jersey context. This might be a more valid criticism if the government hadn’t gone out … More Hospital Review Panel
The credibility of Planning in Jersey depends on many things, but one of the most important is the idea that no one gets special treatment. It is for that reason that I have been asking questions about the Environment Minister’s recent decision to change planning guidance regarding large properties (greater than 3000 square feet/279 square … More How the super wealthy got to write their own planning guidance
There’s been a lot of stuff said recently along the lines that Jersey is being strangled by red tape and therefore we need to reduce regulation – whether that’s regulations that affect business or civil society. Cutting red tape is one of the government’s priorities in their “Common Strategic Policy” and ministers frequently talk about … More Why Jersey Needs Regulation to Thrive as a “Safe Harbour”
It’s panto season which I presume explains Deputy Rob Ward’s recent comedy blog “The slow death of Opposition”, which argued that unlike in the good old days when Reform were in opposition, the opposition today is rubbish. Apparently, the problem is that members who are not in government have been known to talk to each … More The slow death of irony
…And why they are a bonkers idea for Jersey! https://studio.youtube.com/video/SvoMCjk4IbU/edit There have been a few articles and comments recently suggesting that rather than go for a wind farm, Jersey should look to small modular nuclear reactors (SMR’s) as the future of our energy supply. The idea capitalises on recent publicity around the race to develop … More Small modular reactors
Sea grass just below the surface, Violet Bank, south east coast, Jersey This is a letter that was sent to all States members a week ago by a group of eminent scientists, urging support for amendments to the Marine Spatial Plan that would reinstate the marine protected areas as originally proposed. The argument they advance … More Letter regarding the Marine Spatial Plan
An update Since I wrote this article, the St Clement solar array has come on stream and I understand it is performing well. There has also been remarkably little comment about it since commissioning, which suggests that the visual impact is not causing much upset. There are now several other schemes being planned, including a … More Jersey’s New Solar Story
This post is to provide an update (and further thoughts) on a meeting that all 5 elected representatives from St Brelade (Deputies Helen Miles, Moz Scott, Monty Tadier and myself, along with Constable Mike Jackson) held with Lloyds Bank on Thurs Sept 26th, to discuss the recently announced closure of their Les Quennevais branch. Following … More Lloyds Bank
The JEP highlighted the issue of redundant glasshouses yesterday, following recent supplementary planning guidance (SPG) on the issue*. Here are some thoughts on how the issue might be resolved. First, redundant glasshouses are not “brownfield” sites, they are agricultural land with temporary structures. From a planning point of view, the default position is that once … More Glasshouses: a way forward
https://youtu.be/hUbOUmVr_mo We’re now half way through this term of office, so this is a good moment to take stock. Two years ago I went into the Assembly full of ambition, an agenda for change and hope for the future. How has it turned out so far? MENV and out It’s very much a story of … More Mid term report
Jonathan Renouf 2026 election campaign 