Source: Channel Islands – States of Alderney
Press Release
Date: 6th March 2025
Unauthorised Storage in the Designated Area
As part of an island wide effort to improve the appearance and character of the open countryside around the Island, the Planning Office is undertaking proactive steps to help address public feedback in regard to unauthorised storage in the Designated Area.
This initiative will specifically seek to work with land and vehicle owners to address the unauthorised storage of redundant vehicles and shipping containers (unconnected to an approved use) in the Designated Area (also known as the Greenbelt). This includes cars, boats, trailers, vans and motorbikes.
The Alderney Land Use Plan 2017 promotes the Designated Area to safeguard the open countryside, preserve special landscapes and support a network of green infrastructure. This type of unauthorised use of land is having a detrimental impact on the open character and beauty of the countryside, as well as potentially contaminating the soil resulting in the land being unsuitable for agricultural purposes. Whilst planning permission can be sought to allow storage, an application for a change of use would have to demonstrate how the proposal would avoid harm to the landscape and protect or enhance the character of Alderney’s landscape as set out in Policy HE4: Landscape Character.
Initially, vehicle owners are being encouraged to either re-locate vehicles to a more suitable location or to dispose of any redundant vehicles. Disposal can be arranged by obtaining a scrapping voucher (free of charge) from the General Office and presenting this, with your vehicle, at the Impot.
This will then be followed up in June when letters will be sent to relevant parties to remind them that vehicles and shipping containers cannot be stored indefinitely in the Designated Area where they are not being used in connection with an agreed and authorised use of the land e.g. Agriculture, a home or a business and to seek rectification.
If you have any comments regarding this initiative or require advice on whether you need to take any action please contact the Planning Office at planning@alderney.gov.gg
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States of Alderney media enquiries:Publications.alderney@gov.gg