Neil Inder would like to see more restrictions on the location of new developments and believes he has the public’s backing.
In the third quarter of this year, 136 new homes were under construction outside Town or the Bridge, including 56 outside local parish centres.
In total, 392 outstanding permissions were in place for new homes, and 117 of these were outside Town, the Bridge or local parish centres.
Deputy Inder included reducing developments elsewhere in the island on a list of priorities he issued six weeks after being elected to his new role, before an in-depth interview on the latest Guernsey Press Politics Podcast.
Listen to the full interview with Deputy Neil Inder on the latest Guernsey Press Politics Podcast
‘This urban creep outside the housing allocation centres needs to be considered in some way,’ he said.
‘If we’ve got failings in the housing allocation centres, we’re going to keep adding bits and bits and more, and effectively the island is just going to be one great housing estate.
‘The focus should be on current housing allocation areas, to protect what is left of our countryside, our habitats and our green spaces.
‘I don’t think I need consultation as such to understand that’s probably what people would like to see. I know they don’t like urban creep... and this gradual nipping away at our green spaces.’
Deputy Inder believed his objective could probably be achieved within the existing Island Development Plan, which regulates how land can be used.
‘There has to be something which looks like a plan, but the edges of the plan are relatively soft,’ he said.
The plan was approved by the States in 2016 with a 10-year life. Deputy Inder said he was sure that the plan’s lifespan would need to be extended, although elements of it are currently under review and interim amendments are expected during this political term.
He hoped the authority could work with other States committees to make any amendments which may be necessary to enhance protection of the natural environment.
‘I’m meeting Environment & Infrastructure next week, along with the National Trust, La Societe and Trees for Life.
‘They are expressing some concerns about this general nibbling away at our environment and habitats and I entirely agree with them.
‘We’re going to listen to them and see what they think is required to assist on protection. If we can help we will, but it may be the case that E&I needs to strengthen environmental laws to stop certain things happening.’
His other priorities included reviewing the process of listing protected buildings, addressing perceptions of bias in dealing with planning applications, and supporting the installation of small-scale renewable energy projects.
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