Many families attended the drop-in at Castel Douzaine Room to get some practical advice on extending their homes or adding a wing for adult children or elderly parents, and how existing policies might be able to support their plans and to help appropriate development move forward. Multi-generational living, where two or more adult generations of one family live in the same home, can have a number of benefits, including helping to combat loneliness and saving money, while still providing a degree of independence.
‘The aim is to have multiple generations of families under the same roof, and sometimes people have the space to achieve that without extending, but some people will not, and that is where we come in to give advice on what the best route to achieve that is,’ said Jim Rowles, director of planning.
‘That’s the kind of conversations we have been having this morning as well as some other advice on multi-generational living.
‘Everyone has had slightly different situations but the objective is the same.’
A number of people showed an interest in the concept, living with a high number of people attending the event.
‘It’s been constant. I’m very pleased to see so many people because you never know quite what to expect,’ said Mr Rowles.
‘It was really encouraging to see a good number of people here when we started at 10am as well, so we’re very pleased.’
Under a specific policy in the current Island Development Plan, proposals to alter or extend a residential property will be supported by the Development & Planning Authority, provided certain limited criteria are met, including that it does not negatively affect neighbours or the special interest of a conservation area, area of biodiversity importance, or protected buildings/monuments.
Extensions or outbuildings can even sometimes be created without the need for planning permission, as long as it meets the criteria for the exemption for an extension or outbuilding.
Other works, such as making changes to an existing outbuilding, may require planning permission, but may still be permitted.