Deputies to propose a Committee for Housing

The proposed committee would take on mandates spread across a number of committees into one body

A group of deputies has proposed creating a Committee for Housing in order to help the States accelerate the delivery of homes in Guernsey.

Members of the group said they were launching a plan that would look to set up a new principal committee from the next political term that would have more powers under one political body.

The proposed committee would seek to merge different mandates on housing, currently split between the committees for Employment and Social Security, Environment and Infrastructure and Policy and Resources Committee, into one body.

There were also plans to expand the merger further to include industry capacity, financing and include policy areas under the Guernsey Housing Plan, proposers said.

'Deliver on housing'

Deputy Kazantseva-Miller, the lead requêrant, said: "The States Strategic Housing Indicator, approved by the States last year, showed us that we need over 1,500 new homes between 2023 and 2027, or about 313 per year.

"Last year, less than a third of that indicator was built. At the current rate of homebuilding, we have little to no chance to meet that indicator by 2027.

"There must be a step-change in our approach if we are to take that indicator seriously and be trusted by our community to deliver on housing."

The Rules of Procedure enable the States to create or dissolve committees by resolution and the requête does not require any machinery of government changes.

Deputy Kazantseva-Miller added: "I feel strongly that we cannot simply continue with doing more of what we’ve done because the rate and pace indicates that we will not get there.

"I have received quite strong, you could say, overwhelming support, having spent a lot of time engaging with external stakeholders and deputies in the past few months.

"This support has pushed me forward to work with many colleagues across the assembly to finalise the proposals."