The Range Planning Refusal 'Unjustified'

Homeware store, The Range, is appealing against the decision to refuse planning permission for its Jersey store.

The retailer says the reasons given for rejecting its application to convert the Motor Mall site were 'unjustified and not founded'.

The UK chain - which has already registered a Jersey company in preparation to begin trading here - announced plans to open its first branch in the Channel Islands last summer.

It had agreed to take over Jacksons' site on La Grande Route de Saint Jean and open a homeware store there, subject to planning approval.

The Range says the store would create 50 new jobs.

The home and garden retailer operates more than 170 stores across the British Isles; selling furniture, DIY and art supplies.

Company founder, Chris Dawson, now lives in Jersey with his wife after moving from the UK.

Jacksons would move its Motor Mall showroom and services to its existing site in St Peter

At the time its application was submitted, a spokesperson for The Range said it was excited to be branching out into the island:

 “Jersey is a market we’ve been looking at for some time and we’re very excited to be submitting this Planning Application. Our ethos has always been to bring our customers great quality products at the most competitive prices, drawing together everything needed to create beautiful homes.”

Plans included widening St John's Main Road to create a feeder lane to the car park, removing the existing petrol forecourt, creating a new entrance and exit to the store, installing a bus shelter and widening pavements.

But planning officers rejected The Range's application, saying it didn't comply with existing planning policies and would increase traffic in the area.

The retailer has lodged a formal appeal with the Judicial Greffe against the department's decision.

It says its proposals 'come squarely within' existing planning guidelines, and the department's claims otherwise - which formed its grounds for refusal - are 'unjustified and not founded'.

The Range also says while considerations have been given to modes of transport other than privately-owned cars, the nature of the bulky goods being sold means customers will need to be able to transport them home - which may not be practical by bus or bike.

It added that electric vehicle charging points and bike racks are provided within the plans, and there are also four bus stops within 250 metres of the proposed store.

Summarising, the retailer claims the Planning Department gave 'insufficient weight' to the importance of keeping islanders spending on-island, rather than choosing to shop online:

"Insufficient weight was given to the importance of retaining in the island the retail spend that is currently being lost to online retailers, due to the fact this unique bulky goods retail offering is presently unavailable on-island.

Insufficient weight was given to the independent evidence of the benefits to the economy of retaining this retail spend, in the form of a retail impact assessment, which was included as part of the planning application."

Jersey Business had written a letter of support for The Range's proposal on the basis of it providing an economic boost, but the Jersey Chamber of Commerce opposed it on the grounds that it potentially may have diverted trade away from shops in St Helier.

A planning tribunal is now due to take place to review the department's decision. They have been overseen by the Judicial Greffe since 2015 to make sure appeals are dealt with independently from the Planning Department itself.

Islanders are able to comment on the proposals again until Monday 11 April 2022.