Move to scrap Guernsey affordable housing policy

The policy means developers building more than 20 dwellings have to allocate part of the developable area of the site for affordable housing

A proposal to scrap a controversial planning policy is set to be debated by deputies in March.

Deputy John Dyke is leading the push to suspend GP11 which requires a portion of new developments to be affordable housing.

His plan has been put forward as a requête, with six other deputies having signed it.

Guernsey's Housing Association and Development and Planning Authority have been approached for comment.

Since the policy was adopted in 2016 by the States no new affordable houses have been built because of the rule.

The policy means developers building more than 20 dwellings have to allocate part of the developable area of the site for affordable housing.

Critics have said the policy is responsible for the lack of new affordable houses being built in Guernsey.

'Break the logjam'

Mr Dyke said "the lack of affordable housing for young families to buy is undermining the very fabric of our society".

"There are many aspects to this problem, one of which is the self-inflicted IDP Policy GP11 which inhibits the development of the larger sites of over 20 units.

"We really must break the logjam here if our young people are to have any hope of buying a property for their families, to be able to stay and live on the island in homes of their own."

Deputy Peter Roffey said there had been "zero co-ordination"

The move has received pushback from the President of Employment and Social Security, Peter Roffey, who said he was surprised Mr Dyke was leading the attempt to scrap GP11 as he was on the Development and Planning Authority (DPA).

He said: "The DPA has already commenced a full review of GP11 which I understand will be completed within months.

"They have gone to the expense of engaging expert consultants to help in the task. So it seems like a classic case of zero co-ordination between the left hand and the right hand.

"Half way through Deputy Dyke's own committee reviewing GP11 he brings a requête on the matter to the States. I have never seen anything quite like that before."

Mr Roffey has urged the States to wait until the review of the policy is complete before making any decision on the future of the policy.

'Hurdles'

President of Policy and Resources, Lyndon Trott, said he would support the move to scrap the policy.

"In my view it is being used as an excuse, but I want to remove as many roadblocks and hurdles from the development process as I can."

Mr Trott said he would also be bringing a number of initiatives in the next few weeks to tackle the housing crisis, but would not be drawn on what they would look like.

'Unworkable'

Representatives of Guernsey's construction industry have written to all States members urging them to support the move.

Construction Industry Forum chairman John Bampkin said the policy was preventing the private sector from building new homes.

He said: "An eight-year suspension of GP11 will allow private housebuilding to re-start and once again build up momentum to generate much needed housing supply for islanders."

He has labelled the policy as "unworkable".

In his letter, which is endorsed by Guernsey's biggest construction firm JW Rihoys & Son, he added: "The GP11 processes are too complicated, too slow, too difficult to administer, inflexible and contains too many fundamental uncertainties."

Signatories to the requête are Deputies Mark Helyar, Chris Blin, Neil Inder, Liam McKenna, Marc Leadbeater and Simon Vermeulen.