Proposal to suspend planning rule for two years

Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez put forward an amendment to a requête next week

A Guernsey politician has proposed suspending a controversial planning policy for two years.

The proposal would suspend GP11, which requires a portion of all housing developments to be affordable, until May 2026 if approved.

Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez put forward an amendment to a requête next week which aims to get rid of the policy.

Chief Minister Lyndon Trott has previously said he wants to suspend the policy for five years.

Construction industry representatives argue GP11 is making developments unaffordable.

In her proposal, Ms de Sausmarez said it was "reasonable to assume" there would be less of an impact on taxpayers if the policy was suspended for two years rather than five.

She said: "The two-year period ending on 1 May 2026 as proposed in this amendment works well with any recommendations on GP11 that the DPA (Development and Planning Authority) may seek to make.

"The additional financial burden on the States that will be created by a reduction to 0% contribution rate from private development towards the development of affordable housing is unquantifiable."

A draft report on Guernsey’s planning system recommended replacing GP11 with a rule which would mean developers would have to pay £102,000 to the States when a house is built.