Developers say plan risks homes and jobs
HOUSE building will grind to a halt, putting hundreds of jobs at risk, if the draft Island Development Plan is adopted, a host of leading developers, builders and architects have warned.
Their worries stem from the proposal that between 20% and 30% of developments of five buildings or more would have to be affordable housing, with private owners having to give part of their land for social housing for free or sell a fifth of finished homes at cost to the Housing Department or the Guernsey Housing Association.
The consultation representation letter was signed by 19 companies – which include Longport, Comprop, J. W. Rihoy, the Guernsey Building Trades Employers Association and architects – warning that half of the 2,000 homes they have built would never have gone ahead if the new plan was in place.
That includes Admiral Park, Rosaire Court and the Hotel Les Carterets development.
The signatories say that the current housing market is sluggish and that 736 unbuilt planning permissions are already in doubt over viability – with threats many could be mothballed entirely if the new plan comes in.
'We believe that this draft policy is ill-conceived and inadequately considered, based on erroneous information,' it states.
