Cannabis farm's planning permission refused

Planning permission for building works at a medical cannabis farm has been refused after an appeal.

The Government of Jersey said the application for building work at Retreat Farm, St Lawrence, owned by Northern Leaf, was granted by the former planning committee in December.

Following a third-party appeal against the decision against the committee's decision, the case was reviewed by independent planning inspector Sue Bell who recommended it should be refused.

Planning minister Senator Sir Mark Boleat said he had "reluctantly" decided to uphold the recommendations despite having "consequences" on the applicant's business. The company said it was "carefully" reviewing the government's decision.

A Northern Leaf spokesperson said it was also considering the inspector's findings including the possibility issues raised could be addressed through a new application.

They said: "We are considering the appropriate next steps and remain committed to working constructively with the Government and parish to achieve a suitable long-term solution that benefits all of our stakeholders."

The applicant had requested the construction of an acoustic enclosure around existing chillers, with new landscape bunding and reinforced planting and screening, as well as a retrospective application to retain the existing chiller units.

Bell decided the submitted environmental impact statement was "inadequate and did not allow for a full understanding of the environmental effects of the proposals".

She said in recommending refusal the chillers remained unauthorised.

She noted any consequences this might have on the cultivation of the crop and the applicant's business would not justify consenting to an application which had not demonstrated how to avoid adverse effects and which was not in accord with the Bridging Island Plan.

Boleat added: "Although this decision could have consequences on the applicant's business, I cannot ignore the fact that consenting to this application would result in development that fails to fully consider adverse effects on the neighbouring community, particularly in respect of noise and odour.

"Nevertheless, I believe the issues raised by the Inspector could be addressed in a new application."

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