‘Social housing let down by bigger homes plan’
A SENIOR politician has said he is ‘deeply disappointed’ that the States-owned Castel Hospital site has been earmarked for higher-end homes rather than affordable housing.
With more than 500 households on the joint waiting lists of the Guernsey Housing Association and States Housing, Peter Roffey described the latest plans as a let-down for social housing.
Policy & Resources wants to demolish the former hospital and build around 90 homes with three, four or five bedrooms and decent-sized gardens and parking.
Deputy Roffey, who is the chairman of the Housing Action Group and president of Employment & Social Security, believes the island is already deep into an affordable housing crisis.
‘The current unmet demand for social/affordable housing is so large that it far outstrips the number of new homes which can be achieved at the Belgrave and Kenilworth vinery sites. So additional sites are going to be needed by the GHA somewhere.
‘I would hate the narrative to develop where the expectation was that all new social/affordable housing development should be in the northern parishes but that sites in the centre or south of the island should be reserved for private development.
‘If the site were developed – in whole or in part – by the GHA the focus would be on very much-needed 1 or 2-bedroom homes.
‘This would be likely to produce more units for the same development footprint than a purely private development.’
Deputy Roffey has called for a proper debate on the role of States-owned properties to help tackle the housing crisis.
Several weeks ago his committee wrote to Policy & Resources seeking a meeting to discuss the changes, but there was no response.
Deputy Roffey said his concerns over P&R’s policy direction was not limited to the Castel Hospital.
‘Recently P&R decided to sell off two other States-owned properties despite ESS making the case that their conversion to key worker housing would be both a speedy and cost effective way to provide desperately needed accommodation for health and social care staff.
‘This was a particularly surprising decision as the idea of conversion to key worker housing had received unanimous support from the voting members of the Housing Action Group.’
Aside from Deputy Roffey, reaction to yesterday’s announcement from P&R was positive.
John Bampkin, the chairman of the Guernsey Construction Forum, said it was good news
‘It’s good use of a site that has been dormant for a long time, and I think it’s been approached in a very professional and joined-up way so far.
‘There’s lots of interest from developers, obviously it will depend on all the detail, but it’s certainly something that the developers said they would welcome and look into and look to work with the States.
‘The site has been highlighted for bigger homes, but elsewhere there are plans for small starter homes to ease the situation for first-time buyers.
‘The more houses that we have coming onto the marketplace the more house prices stay stable or even go backwards and become more affordable, there’s a lack of supply at all levels and that’s why we’re seeing crazy prices right now and it makes it difficult for everybody.’
P&R also wants to build up to 150 apartments for nurses alongside the Princess Elizabeth Hospital, and it is anticipated this would free up a lot of supply in the private rental market.
