The open letter from Island Land is being published today, ahead of the deadline for public feedback on the idea.
An outline planning application has been submitted to demolish an existing derelict building on Bridge Avenue, just inland from the Bridge, and erect an eight-storey building with 12 apartments.
The Island Land team said there had been a lot of support for the project, but also some people were confused or negative.
‘As the local team behind this plan, we thought it time to set out why we made this application, and why we believe it’s in Guernsey’s best interests for it to be approved, and how we hope to help the island with future projects,’ they said.
‘The primary reason for creating these 12 apartments is that it is necessary. No one who lives in our island can be unaware that Guernsey is currently experiencing a housing crisis. Purchase prices and rents are astronomically high. So high, indeed, that a recent States report estimated there to be 1,000 technically homeless islanders.’
The comments come as charity Caritas was given planning permission for two emergency homeless pods, which are expected to be placed in the Vale Douzaine car park later this autumn.
The most recent rental figures – from the second quarter of 2025 – showed that the average cost was £2,075 per month.
Island Land said their first project would make better use of the site, which was currently an unoccupied office building.
They also highlighted that the current application was for outline planning permission.
Outline permission is for the principle of the development proposed, with certain specified matters reserved for separate later consideration. This type of application is usually used for major development proposals.
Island Land said that if these plans were granted, the site’s eventual developer would submit detailed architectural plans.
They said they were keen to work with islanders to make the scheme happen.
Public consultation on the planning application closes on Tuesday. The Development & Planning Authority will then need to consider the plans and responses against planning policies.
The plans can be viewed at gov.gg/liveplanningapplications.
The plans would normally be available on the planning search website, which is where the application’s progress is updated after consultation, but the relevant page for the plans does not work and the plans also do not appear on the websearch webmap. No comment has been made about why this has happened.
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