Contaminated brownfield sites ‘unviable’ – developers

The States has been under pressure to find more sites for housing, but there has also been push- back from the public and deputies when development of green fields has been suggested.

It led to the Development & Planning Authority to launch a fresh search for suitable brownfield sites.

Developer Paul Nobes, who runs the GCF sub-committee on housing, agreed that brownfield sites should take priority, but said these were not an easy solution.

‘The trouble with them and also many former glasshouse sites is the amount of pesticide and lead in the soil,’ he said.

‘The last two brownfield sites we looked at had so much lead we would have had to remove 500mm of soil at a cost of hundreds of thousands of pounds. The tipping fees often make this unviable and this could be the situation in nine out of 10 sites of this type.’

He said that one suggestion to help could be to cut or cancel those tipping fees.

The forum is expected to be meeting the DPA and its senior planning officers shortly to discuss possible moves to accelerate housing development.

‘A lot is going to happen in the coming weeks, and hopefully we can help them deliver an IDP that works for now and the future,’ he said.

‘Every site has its own issues. What has been suggested is to use some green field sites now but reduce the density on sites that have already been allocated for housing so that the amount of green space stays the same. This would bring much-needed housing through over the next few years and result in no net loss of green field sites.’

DPA president Deputy Victoria Oliver said she was conscious that derelict glasshouses were currently classified as greenfield land but most of the public considered them to be brownfield.

The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment was published in June following a call for sites.

Nearly 350 sites were submitted to the DPA, but were not shortlisted as they did not comply with planning policies.

Of the 24 sites that were shortlisted as being suitable for housing, eight were brownfield sites, while seven were combination of green field and brownfield.

The authority recently admitted that it would be unable to complete a partial review of the Island Development Plan before the end of the States term next year.

A further call for sites was launched recently with the planning authority asking for new sites not previously submitted which were at least 0.25 acres (0.6 vergee) and could accommodate five or more dwellings, predominantly for social housing.

Sites need to comply with the island’s strategic land planning policies, which include that new housing and employment should be focused on St Peter Port and the Bridge, with limited development in and around local centres.

Deputy Steve Falla, who has in the past asked the DPA to consider glasshouse sites rather than green fields, took to social media to encourage Guernsey residents to respond to the DPA’s renewed call, and offering to help with contact.

‘I have made representations through the recent consultation that redundant glasshouse sites rather than green field sites be used,’ he said. ‘It is well understood we need to build more housing.

‘It is disappointing that this is only a partial review as I don’t feel it goes far enough. I have gone on the record before that the Strategic Land Use Plan – the plan above the IDP – is restrictive.’