DPA wants to wait until 2025 for debate on developer tariffs
A STATES debate on proposals which could encourage developers to build more homes has been delayed by at least another two years.
In June last year, the Development & Planning Authority asked the States to direct it to produce proposals by the end of 2022 on whether developers should be allowed to exclude social housing from their own larger developments if they make payments – or tariffs – towards building social housing on other sites.
The issue is related to the controversial planning policy GP11, which Policy & Resources president Deputy Peter Ferbrache and several other deputies want to see scrapped or substantially amended.
But the DPA now wants to postpone the debate on payments or tariffs and include it in a wider review of the Island Development Plan, which it intends to submit to the States for debate in 2025.
‘If we were to look just at the tariffs, this would divert resources from the IDP review, putting that under threat for this term,’ said DPA president Victoria Oliver.
‘Even if we had the resources to take the tariffs findings to the States, it would be premature and confusing. None of it can be brought in without a policy change through the IDP review anyway.’
She said the DPA considered the issue in March and, by a majority, agreed both the revised timeline and how it would review the pros and cons of allowing financial contributions from developers as an alternative to building social housing.
‘The focused review of the IDP includes the examination of the effectiveness and appropriateness of the existing policy GP11 in securing affordable housing through private market development.
‘Therefore, it makes sense for the consideration of tariff payments in lieu to take place at the same time to provide the States with a comprehensive assessment on this matter,’ said Deputy Oliver.
The States has twice directed the DPA to report back with proposals on allowing developers to make financial contributions towards social housing.
The first time was as part of the original IDP debate in 2016.
The successful request to the States last summer to direct the DPA to carry out the work was in the form of an amendment to the Government Work Plan.
The amendment was proposed by Deputy Oliver and seconded by Deputy Mark Helyar. It was supported by 32 deputies with none voting against.
At the time, Deputies Oliver and Helyar said: ‘[The 2016] work stream was paused so that it could consider an updated States strategic housing indicator. However, with the current pressures on the housing market, and the increased priority given to housing supply in this Government Work Plan, now is the time to investigate this option, which could potentially facilitate the implementation of existing housing permissions whilst still providing for affordable housing.’
The DPA intends to publish its proposed changes to the Island Development Plan in 2024 and to hold a public planning inquiry on them by the end of that year.
A States debate is pencilled in for 2025, before the general election which will be held in June that year.
If deputies want to make further amendments to the IDP at that stage, the planning inquiry would need to be reopened.
