GHA attacks IDP policy over affordable housing
CONTROVERSIAL affordable housing and parking policies within the proposed Island Development Plan have come under a shock late attack from Guernsey Housing Association.
Association chairman Quentin Spicer is lobbying deputies, ahead of the critical IDP debate next month, in a bid to see key modifications made to these two areas of concern – adding weight to those shared within the construction industry.
Amendments are already planned to tackle concerns over the IDP, and the GHA has particular ones over the low threshold for when the affordable housing policy kicks in.
This would see a requirement for any development involving just five properties or more to provide at least 20% affordable housing. Instead, Mr Spicer said he believed the States should be enabled to take a 'tariff payment' from the developer, equivalent to the free land value they would normally have, to provide for affordable housing.
