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Solar panels and balconies could be omitted from a housing project being jointly led by the Guernsey Housing Association and a private developer.
Work is already underway on the Oberlands Road site after planning permission was granted for Infinity Construction and the island’s social housing provider to deliver 15 key worker flats and six private dwellings in the first public-private venture of its kind.
But now a fresh application has gone inseeking to remove the north facing balconies from the key workerapartment blocks and replace them with Juliet balconies, as well as removing solar panels from the development.
The Guernsey Housing Association says the one-bedroomflats which will be under its control are only intended to be a “landing pad” and not a “forever home” for health workers just settling into island life before moving into larger social or private rental housing.
“The properties will still provide a high standard of living for the target user group”, it added, saying there will be adequate outside areas for each flat.”
It added that since public money will be used to purchase the flats to rent out to hospital staff there needs to be a solid business case at a time when the States has tight purse strings.
“With current inflationary pressures on build costs, the cost of long-term borrowing to fund the development, and the need to maximise the impact of a finite Affordable Housing Development Grant Pot, there is a need to balance costs to the public purses against the context above and what the apartments are trying to achieve for key workers.”
Both parties have requested that solar panels aren’t included in the scheme but pledged that the thermal efficiency of the buildings would be improved instead.
Pictured: The project was originally fully private but a deal was struck with the GHA at the end of 2023.
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