Developers to be quizzed over housing shortage

The States of Guernsey is set to host a series of meetings to ask landowners and developers why so few houses are being built despite the availability of land.

Environment and Infrastructure (E&I) said the meetings later this month would help "better understand" what had prevented developments from going ahead and how officials could help.

E&I President Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez said the States would consider how to support developments that were "currently deemed to be unviable".

She said the assistance was not about providing "government handouts".

De Sausmarez said States support could instead be provided through help in securing loans, joint ventures, flood mitigation measures and improvements to the transport system.

"Given the current state of States finances, we obviously can't guarantee that direct financial support will be available," she said.

"Historically, government intervention in the housing market has been minimal.

"But with so few developments coming forward, even though ample land has been zoned for housing, and there's a healthy number of planning permissions in place, we need to take practical steps to address this lack of progress in the private housing market."

De Sausmarez said the meetings were part of a larger plan to "address the bigger picture of housing in Guernsey".

She said the States was looking at a range of issues including housing standards, the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants, energy efficiency and modern methods of construction

"There is no quick fix," she said.

"We can't resolve Guernsey's housing pressures at the flick of a switch, but this work adds to other practical steps which are already well under way."

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