New Leale's Yards plans include fewer homes

The new plans from SRA Architects follow a change in the manufatcurer of the modular homes being used by developers

Revised plans for fewer homes than originally planned at Leale's Yard in Guernsey have been submitted.

The new scheme would see fewer than 300 flats being built at the site on The Bridge, alongside 18 townhouses.

In 2022, developers announced they would be working with modular home provider Ilke Homes, but that company has since gone out of business.

In a letter to the Development and Planning Authority (DPA), SRA Architects stated the new supplier required "fundamental changes to the residential block layouts".

Businesses were moved out of Leale's Yard by the Co-Op almost two decades ago

The original scheme from the Co-Op and Omnibus Ltd had proposed building 338 new homes on the site, but that ambition has been reduced to 296 under the new plans.

The new application includes spaces for 336 cars, with 17 of those earmarked as accessible spaces.

Two office blocks, a new Co-Op shop and seven blocks of flats make up the majority of the new scheme.

Officials at the States of Guernsey had warned of flood risks on The Bridge following reports from experts.

Plans from developers Omnibus already include flood defences, but, despite this, plans for defences from the States of Guernsey are set to be published next week at an estimated cost of about £2m.

Chief Minister Lyndon Trott told the States of Guernsey last week he did not believe work on the project would start until 2026

Proposals to invest millions of pounds' worth of public money in the project are expected to be published before the end of 2024.

Developer Omnibus had intended to work with modular manufacturer Ilke Homes, but the company went into administration in 2023

Analysis: John Fernandez, BBC Guernsey political reporter

With almost two decades having passed since businesses were moved out of Leale’s Yard ahead of a "large development" by the Co-Op, it's understandable people will look at these new revised plans with a degree of scepticism.

The difference here, compared to previously undelivered iterations, is the possibility of States' support to buy some of the new homes.

Behind the scenes, politically, there are those who want this as a "big win" for this assembly – an assembly which, during a housing crisis, has flatly failed to deliver the building of the new homes the island’s government says it needs.

It’s that backing which makes these plans more likely to progress than other plans before it. But we’ll learn how politically palatable these plans are when proposals reach the States in 2025.

The stumbling block which remains is a deep scepticism politically from some members about modular construction and it’s that hurdle which needs to be overcome.