States 'must wake up' and tackle homes crisis
THE States needs to 'wake up' and tackle the island's housing crisis before it is too late, the Housing minister has warned.
Deputy Dave Jones expressed frustration after the latest housing bulletin revealed that the island was falling far short of its target for building new homes.
In the last three years, there has been a net increase of just 485 new homes, despite having a target of 300 each year.
The 2012 housing needs survey recommended that the current target be increased to 451, meaning the island has actually fallen short by 566 homes since 2011.
Deputy Jones, pictured, said Housing warned States members five years ago that if nothing was done developments 'would fall off a cliff'.
The States now needed urgently to push forward with its approved property rationalisation project, known as the Strategic Asset Management Programme, to try to free up some land before development grinds to a halt, he said.
