Professional task force idea backed by architects

Deputy Peter Ferbrache put forward the idea in the Guernsey Press, suggesting that the group could include architects, environmentalists and builders alongside planners and politicians.

Lovell Ozanne architects director Andrew Merrett said he would be interested in getting involved, although he was sure there would be some ‘professional disagreements’ among such a diverse group of people.

‘I’d be in favour of it as long as we have some say in how it’s done and how the whole thing is approached,’ he said.

‘One thing I would be wary of is it just becoming another government talking shop and quango.

‘I wouldn’t want to sit down and say “This is what we’re going to do” and nothing happens.’

His feelings were echoed by Alex Whitmore, director of architects PF+A.

‘I think it’s a very good idea,’ he said.

‘It would be using people with relevant skill sets to come up with some suggestions to get things moving.’

It would be good to see the States being proactive in getting professionals together in this way, he said.

The company would welcome the opportunity to get involved.

Guernsey Building Trades Employers’ Association president Steve Roussel said some of its members were developers as well as builders, and he was sure they would be interested in being involved.

‘And if it’s done in discussion with planners and others, I think it would be a positive way forward.

‘It’s finding the right path between looking after the island and not over-developing, yet providing sufficient housing to meet the needs of islanders.’

Deputy Ferbrache said in his letter that the developments to be looked at by the task force, should it be set up, would involve ‘land in appropriate areas, whatever its zoning, but not on true green land’.

He has gone on to clarify this as meaning ‘land that any sensible and reasonable person would consider to be green land that should never be built upon’.

Jamie Hooper works for Environment Guernsey, a commercial subsidiary of La Societe, and said it already spoke to architects about various projects.

‘I could be there [on the task force] but I would be encouraging my colleagues at La Societe to have a representative on the panel,’ he said.

‘I would hope that it would feed down to us at some point.’

Someone could be nominated from among the charity’s scientific committee, he said, which included presidents of various science sections and he thought they could agree who would be the representative.

However, outgoing president of La Societe, Roy Bisson, said the island did not need the sort of body talked about by Deputy Ferbrache.

‘It would be difficult to envisage a task force of any kind being able to acquire property for housing and arrange development without involving present housing laws,’ he said.

‘If there is to be a change in which land is to be built upon this can be accommodated in the new Island Plan, to which States members, States departments and the public can contribute.

‘The major problem of housing development in Guernsey is that the existing suitable property has been hoarded by developers and investors.’

La Societe had a policy of not supporting building on agricultural land, said Mr Bisson.