STATES OF JERSEY JERSEY FUTURE HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT – SOCIO-ECONOMICS 14 SOCIO-ECONOMICS................................................................................................................ 14-1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................... 14-1 REVIEW OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ............................................................................................................. 14-1 LEGISLATION , POLICY CONTEXT AND GUIDANCE ................................................................................................ 14-1 CONSULTATION ............................................................................................................................................... 14-5 METHODOLOGY .............................................................................................................................................. 14-6 LIMITATIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS ...................................................................................................................... 14-9 ECONOMIC PROFILE ........................................................................................................................................ 14-9 POPULATION AND LABOUR MARKET CONDITIONS ............................................................................................. 14-14 DESIGN MITIGATION ...................................................................................................................................... 14-28 ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS ............................................................................................................................. 14-29 MITIGATION AND ENHANCEMENT .................................................................................................................... 14-47 RESIDUAL EFFECTS ....................................................................................................................................... 14-48 ASSESSMENT SUMMARY MATRIX ................................................................................................................... 14-50 STATES OF JERSEY JERSEY FUTURE HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT – SOCIO-ECONOMICS 14 SOCIO-ECONOMICS Introduction 14.1 This EIS chapter describes the assessment of effects on socio-economic receptors during the construction and operational phases of the proposed JFH. It considers relevant legislation, policy and guidance; presents the assessment methodology used; establishes the baseline situation against which the assessment is made; and subsequently considers potential construction and operational effects, proposing mitigation measures where necessary. A summary of socio-economic effects and proposed mitigation measures is presented at the end of the chapter. Review of proposed development 14.2 The JFH is planned to better meet modern healthcare standards, reduce overcrowding, and deal with future challenges including a potential for growth in demand through an aging society. 14.3 As a major construction project and a key public service facility (the only hospital of its kind on the Island) during both the construction and operation phase it has the potential to have significant impacts on socio-economic conditions. 14.4 JFH construction includes the temporary and permanent relocation of several services and therefore necessitates consideration of the commercial and residential property environment. Legislation, policy context and guidance Legislation 14.5 Legislation of relevance to the socio-economic assessment is considered below. This focuses on employment, residential status and the wider economy of Jersey. Employment legislation 14.6 The Employment (Jersey) Law 2003 is set out to specify terms of employment, compulsory leave, rights to protects against unfair dismissal and a minimum wage 1. 1 Employment (Jersey) Law 2003. Available at: https://www.jerseylaw.je/laws/superseded/Pages/2006/05.255.aspx 14-1 STATES OF JERSEY JERSEY FUTURE HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT – SOCIO-ECONOMICS Residential status 14.7 The Control of Housing and Work (Jersey) Law was introduced in 2012 in order to ‘enable Jersey to preserve and maximise the benefits of its resources’ 2. This system of registration cards, which are required when moving into a property or starting work, replaced socio security cards. There are four categories of residential status in Jersey, which determine where residents can live and work. These are set out in Table 14.1. Table 14.1: Residential Status (Source: Residential Statuses Jersey Government) Residential status Definition Housing Work Entitled (previously a-h Someone who has lived in Can buy, sell or lease any Can work anywhere and category) Jersey for 10 years property doesn’t need permission to be employed Licensed (previously j Someone who is an Can buy, sell or lease any Employer needs permission category) ‘essential employee’ property, apart from first time to employ a ‘licensed’ person buyer restricted or social rented housing, in their own name if they keep their ‘licensed’ status Entitled for work Someone who has lived in Can buy property jointly with Can work anywhere and Jersey for five consecutive an ‘entitled’ spouse / civil doesn’t need permission to years immediately before the partner. Can lease be employed date the registration card is ‘registered’ (previously issued, or is married to ‘unqualified’) property as a someone who is ‘entitled’, main place of residence ‘licensed’, or ‘entitled for work’ Registered (previously non- Someone who does not Can lease ‘registered’ Employer needs permission qualified) qualify under the other property as a main place of to employ a ‘registered’ categories residence person An anti-inflation strategy for Jersey 14.8 As a small economy with no central bank, Jersey faces a particular inflation risk. Jersey seeks to target a level of inflation as based on the RPIX index of 2.5%. Without its own central bank the main way the government can achieve this is through fiscal policy. Jersey has a Fiscal Policy Panel (FPP) that provides Jersey’s Treasury and Resources minister with advice on spending tax and use of the 2 Jersey Residential and Employment Status Guidance. Available at: https://www.gov.je/SiteCollectionDocuments/Benefits%20and%20financial%20support/P%20Residential%20and% 20Employment%20Status%20Guidance%2020161205%20RB.pdf 14-2 STATES OF JERSEY JERSEY FUTURE HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT – SOCIO-ECONOMICS ‘stabilisation fund’. Jersey previously capped the level of construction activity, partly in order to limit the potential for it to create inflationary pressure in the economy 3. This is no longer the case but Jersey still aims to pursue a broadly counter cyclical fiscal policy in order to mitigate against the risk of inflation. Policy context 14.9 Policy of relevance to the socio-economic assessment is contained within the States Strategic Plan (2015-2018), the Revised 2011 Island Plan (2014) along with relevant Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) and strategies as summarised below. Strategic Plan 2015 to 2018 14.10 The current strategic plan, approved by the States of Jersey Council of Ministers, identifies the Council of Ministers key priorities and sets the strategic direction for detailed delivery plans. 14.11 Improved health and wellbeing is a key priority within the Plan and the future hospital is referenced as a desired outcome in terms of agreeing the site and commencing build. Optimising economic growth is also a key priority with some desired outcomes including a skilled workforce. Revised 2011 Island Plan 2014 14.12 The Jersey Island Plan was adopted in 2011 and revised in 2014. The plan has a number of strategic and specific policies of direct or indirect relevance to the Jersey Future Hospital and in particular this assessment. Strategic Policies Policy SP1 Spatial Strategy: Development will be concentrated within the Island’s built-up area, as defined on the proposals map, and, in particular, within the Town of St Helier. Policy SP5 Economic Growth and diversification: A high priority will be given to the maintenance and diversification of the economy and support for new and existing businesses, particularly where development can attract small footprint/high value business from elsewhere and foster innovation, in the following ways: 3 http://www.statesassembly.gov.je/AssemblyPropositions/2000/21447-5663.pdf 14-3 STATES OF JERSEY JERSEY FUTURE HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT – SOCIO-ECONOMICS • the protection and maintenance of existing employment land and floorspace for employment- related use; • the redevelopment of vacant and under-used existing employment land and floorspace for new employment uses; • the provision of sufficient land and development opportunities for new and existing employment use. Specific Policies Policy E1 Protection of employment land: The government seeks to protect land earmarked for employment purposes from residential or other development. As a small island with a finite amount of land this is particularly important in order to ensure Jersey can remain a self-sustaining economy. Policy EO 1 New Office Development : Sites identified for future office developments are at Pier Road/Commercial Buildings, North of the Masterplan area and Gloucester Street. Policy ER 2: Protection and promotion of St Helier for shopping. The government intends to project St Helier as the main retailing centre of