Autumn date expected for planning review debate
BBCA debate on changes to planning rules and affordable housing sites is expected to be done later this year, States officials said.
The Island Development Plan (IDP) - which acts as a guidebook for building projects in Guernsey - is being reviewed by the Development and Planning Authority (DPA) 10 years after it was initially adopted in 2016.
The review is set to decide whether to make changes to the plan or produce a new one.
Steve Williams, Committee for Housing President, said the States of Guernsey would "probably" debate the changes in September or October once DPA drafted up a policy letter based on a recent report by the IDP review's independent inspector.
Following feedback from islanders on the proposed changes to the DPA, seven affordable housing sites have been earmarked for inclusion:
- Les Caches Farm - Rue Des Caches, St Pierre du Bois
- Regency Vinery - Steam Mill Lane, St Martin
- Route Carré, St Sampson
- School Lane Vinery - La Grande Rue, St Martin
- Selbourne Lane Vinery - Route Des Coutanchez, St Peter Port
- Two Acres - La Planque Lane, Forest
- Whispers - Rue Des Goddards, Castel
The States described affordable housing as "property that's reserved for certain groups of people who can't afford to rent or buy property on the private market".
This included States houses, partial ownership properties and extra care facilities.
In 2024, the States Strategic Housing Indicator found 673 new units of affordable housing would need to be created by 2028 to meet the island's requirements.
According to the Guernsey Housing Association, as of January there were 228 applicants on the partial ownership waiting list and 386 eligible households waiting to rent States housing.
In principle, if the changes are accepted by the States, the seven new affordable housing sites would progress towards next stages of development.
Williams said the sites would provide a more "deliverable" solution to boosting available affordable housing in Guernsey.
"They're smaller sites, so the more smaller to medium contractors can tackle those as well," he said.
'Narrowed the scope'
Simon Holland, managing director of Guernsey-based housing developer Hillstone, said he did not believe the allocated zones went far enough in addressing the island's need for housing.
He added he believed the designation of the zones as "affordable" would restrict their capacity for development.
Currently, only the Guernsey Housing Association (GHA) is registered to develop affordable housing, under the States definition, on the island.
"I think the States have narrowed the scope too far, in only zoning the land for social housing, because we only have one social housing provider," Holland said.
"So all in all, I think the current review will offer almost nothing in terms of deliverable units."
The IDP's proposed amendments said though sites are intended for affordable housing, a "minority" of a site could be developed for private market housing.
But it added any development must be part of a "comprehensive scheme" for the whole site.
The GHA has been approached by the BBC for comment.
