Planning pledges to tackle affordable housing and disused sites

Monday 30 November 2020

The President of the Development and Planning Authority has promised "swift and decisive" action to amend the Island Development Plan to address some of its shortcomings.

In addition to this, development frameworks are currently in development for La Vrangue and Fontaine Vinery with a view to providing more affordable housing, which has been seen as one of the greatest failings of the IDP.

“The opportunities to provide affordable housing through the development of the larger allocated sites are very important, particularly given that we have achieved no affordable housing whatsoever to date through Policy GP11,” Deputy Victoria Oliver said.

Deputy Oliver said that land use issues surrounding greenfield and open land sites may be considered among the "emerging priorities" of the DPA, along with tackling some of the island's "eyesore" derelict sites.

Section 46 of the Planning Law may be used to force landowners to do something about unsafe or unattractive buildings. Deputy Lyndon Trott was pleased with the suggestion, and asked if this would result in the clearance of some of the island’s abandoned and overgrown vineries.

Pictured: In a question to Deputy Oliver, Deputy Lester Queripel suggested that the previous assembly had only "ranted" about the changes they would like to see to the IDP, and encouraged Deputies to "roll up their sleeves" and try to get the changes made themselves.

“In short words, it would,” she said. “I think that so many greenhouses would be better off being flattened, because there’s very little biodiversity with brambles.

“But it would generally be used for buildings which are dangerous, the likes of Idlerocks that would have to be cleared to be made safe.”

States Members have been invited to an event on 8 December being held jointly by DPA and E&I, to provide an overview of the Strategic Land Use Plan and the IDP.

Pictured top: DPA President Victoria Oliver.