ESS and P&R could have a showdown over Castel Hospital

Employment & Social Security president Peter Roffey said yesterday that he would seek his committee’s backing to take the issue to the States unless P&R allocates at least part of the site to the Guernsey Housing Association soon.

A group of deputies are currently discussing submitting a requete asking the States to direct part or all of the site to be used for social housing, if ESS declines to press the issue.

P&R insisted that the future of the site had not yet been decided.

‘Due to the scale of the site, there is the potential that it could accommodate more than one use and options for housing continue to be explored along with other potential uses.

‘The committee is committed to seeing the site put to good use,’ said P&R.

But it declined to say whether it was open to using the site for social housing.

Its property lead, David Mahoney, said in the States last week that he and Deputy Roffey ‘have very different views’ on the best long-term use of the site.

‘ESS has asked P&R for the site to be allocated for social housing and given to the GHA for that purpose,’ said Deputy Roffey.

‘If our request is rejected, I will strongly recommend to ESS that we ask the States to arbitrate in what would then be a disagreement between committees. It is now a long time since our initial request and I hope the matter can be brought to a head as soon as possible.’

The States agreed a new strategic housing policy on Friday, which includes the need for an additional 844 private homes and 721 units of social housing by 2027.

‘ESS has always been very firm that the site should be used for affordable housing and the strategic housing indicator approved last week makes that case overwhelming,’ said Deputy Roffey.

‘It seems crazy to be using what limited land we do have for any purpose other than affordable housing.

‘It would be perverse for P&R to prioritise the site’s use for four-bedroom private sector homes, when as recently as Friday the States approved a housing needs indicator which clearly revealed that this was the last thing the island needs. It would be a classic case of putting short-term profit ahead of long-term need.’

The former hospital itself is in a poor state of repair. But the States spent money on the site in 2020 to improve facilities for at least 200 Health & Social Care staff who still work there.

Deputy Mahoney said last year that he wanted to see private homes developed on the site and surrounding fields. P&R later said he was seeking to open a debate about its future use.

He also said last week that he wanted to see the building demolished. But the Development & Planning Authority is currently considering whether to list it as a protected building.

There are two sets of plans for around 90 units of social housing on the site.

‘One involved the total demolition of the hospital and one involved retaining the attractive east facade,’ said Deputy Roffey.

‘They would be within the developed area of the site, in contrast to Deputy Mahoney’s vision to build fewer but larger homes both on the site and the surrounding green fields.’

Deputy Roffey also expects planning approval to be more likely for social housing than private housing.

‘Using a site like the Castel for housing – which is not within a designated centre – would require proof of strong strategic need and the case for that is far stronger for affordable housing than for general housing,’ he said.

P&R is also considering the impact of the Assembly’s decision last week to direct that a new law aimed at clearing up derelict buildings and land should include States properties, as well as those owned privately.