Plans submitted for 38 affordable homes in Jersey

The site was chosen after Jersey's Government rezoned a number of protected fields for affordable housing.

Plans have been submitted for 38 affordable homes to be built on a field in Sion in Jersey.

Ashbe Construction has applied to build a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom homes.

The site was chosen after Jersey's government rezoned a number of protected fields for affordable housing.

Deputy Hilary Jeune said "nobody wants to build on a field" but "Jersey needs housing".

A report by Statistics Jersey found almost 1600 homes needed to be built in the next three years to meet demand.

Deputy Hilary Jeune said the number of properties proposed is a concern

Ms Jeune said: "We understand in Jersey we've had lots of discussions about the fact we need housing and not just one-bedroom flats.

"We actually need housing for our young families to be able to grow in the community and stay in the community."

She said she had concerns about the number of properties in the planning application.

"The maximum development intensity in that brief was for 36 houses, between 28 and 36 houses, the developers are proposing 38.

She added: "This always puts planning into a difficult position".

A children's play area could be included in the plans while the developer will have to leave conservation corridors for nearby bats and have special low-level lighting.