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Environment & Infrastructure has launched a review into all types of modern methods of construction, such as modular and micro housing, to see which may be the best fit for the island.
Targeted investigations have already been carried out by Policy & Resources into volumetric modular as part of its due diligence before investing public cash into housing at Leale’s Yard, with the committee recently backing the construction technique.
But E&I is now committing to a broader investigation into all the options with suitability determined by how easily housing units can be shipped to the island, where they would be initially stored, and how they could be transported to sites successfully.
Site constraints, infrastructure requirements, longevity, climate resistance, and the on-island skills will also be considered, it added.
Building regulations, planning requirements and fire safety considerations are on the cards too, but its been denied this has come out of fire concerns being raised in the States Assembly by Deputy Andrew Taylor who highlighted the published position of UK fire chiefs, which has been endorsed by local fire chiefs, saying there are significant unknowns with the new construction methods.
Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, President of Environment & Infrastructure, said there is “serious interest” in construction methods which are cheaper and can deliver additional units faster.
Pictured: Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez.
“We believe at least some of these modern methods of construction could work well for us in Guernsey, helping to deliver more good quality homes more quickly, and potentially even at a lower cost. That’s what we’re aiming for,” she said.
“When it comes to housing, speed of delivery is an important factor, but so is the safety and quality of the homes being built. We need to know whether modern methods of construction are safe and durable, and specifically which methods are most appropriate for Guernsey in the context of our local conditions and requirements, such as our climate, transport logistics and their deliverability through our local skills base.”
The Chief Officer of Home Affairs is responding to fire chiefs’ concerns before discussing fire safety concerns with other committees.
The National Fire Chiefs Council is especially concerned with 3D Modular construction and use of engineered mass timber products, calling on the UK government to ramp up regulatory discussion and ensure adequate testing is carried out by reforming building standards.
“Meeting housing supply should not be prioritised at the expense of safety, and we have concerns that there remains a lack of understanding about the performance of MMC which presents significant uncertainty in the built environment,” it said.
“A focus on sustainable building approaches has shown an increased interest in MMC and in the use of materials such as timber as well as the incorporation of features such as living walls and roofs. There should not be a conflict between sustainability, improved building standards and fire safety.”
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