‘New homes build target needs to be much higher’
MORE than 900 new homes were built between 2017 and 2021 – smashing States targets for new house-building over the period.
But the politician leading on housing matters has said a target of 127 units a year was clearly much too low, and a new, higher target is likely to be set from this year.
The States set its ‘strategic housing indicator’ to create 635 new units of accommodation over the period from 2017 to 2021 – that is 127 a year, with a plus or minus variation factored in of 30 units. Just more than a quarter of these should have been ‘affordable’.
‘In hindsight the previous targets were clearly set too low,’ said Deputy Peter Roffey, chairman of the States Housing Action Group.
‘For example the number of new social housing units created has been at the top end of the suggested range and yet waiting lists have still grown. That said, three years ago the targets seemed about right, with a reasonably steady housing situation.’
A new strategic housing indicator will be proposed to the States later this year. It has been prioritised in its housing strategy programme and Government Work Plan.
‘It is for Environment & Infrastructure [who will draw up the figure] to comment further, but I expect it to show an increased need for additional homes over the years ahead,’ said Deputy Roffey.
He said that a significant increase in population over the past three years had proved the strategic indicator had been set too low, and this also posed concerns for the future.
‘The fact this has had such a profound impact on the housing market shows clearly the dangers of chasing large-scale population growth as a temporary fix to Guernsey’s changing demographics,’ he said.
‘The amount of housing required to service the need of a growing population would have a profound impact on the nature of the island, due to the land requirements involved. The HAG was set up in response to the worsening housing situation and is doing its best to facilitate new developments as quickly as possible to respond to the accepted shortage in supply.
‘The frustration is that however vigorous that response, there is a considerable lead time before new homes can be created.’
