A DEVELOPER who has been trying to build on a field for the last five years has had his application put on hold pending legal advice.

David Sheppard, director of Almondale, wants to build a five-bedroom house with a swimming pool and triple garage at Field 621, Route de Noirmont.

St Brelade residents and parish politicians feel that because the site was rezoned green by the States in 2005 it should not be built on. They are determined to maintain a gap in the ribbon development maintaining views of Ouaisne bay and La Cotte headland.

However, at a recent planning panel meeting it transpired that that because Mr Sheppard had bought the field in 2004 — when it was designated a ‘built-up area’ — he had the expectation that he could build on it.

On Wednesday, the applications panel, who were recommending that the application should be approved, had to defer so they could find out the legal implications of both arguments.