Inspector Keith Holland recommended allocating six more sites for affordable new builds, in addition to the seven already proposed by the Development & Planning Authority.
Following that feedback, the DPA is now proposing two further sites to its preliminary list, at Springhurst House in Forest and land at Sandy Hook at L’Islet.
It is now preparing its report for a States debate within the next few months, when it will ask members to agree with its latest changes.
‘We welcome the fact that there is broad support from the independent inspector for many of our proposals as part of this focused review of the IDP,’ said DPA president Neil Inder.
‘We’ve carefully considered the areas where the inspector has offered an alternative view, which is why we’ve adapted our approach in the allocation of sites for affordable housing to make sure that there are back-ups in case some sites don’t come forward.’
The inspector suggested allocating the additional sites given the uncertainties around viability, timing and the number of affordable housing units that might be provided under the DPA’s other plans.
Springhurst House is currently a residential and commercial property off Forest Road.
‘The allocation of this site would also involve the land to the west that adjoins the local centre boundary. The site is partly brownfield and partly greenfield,’ said Mr Holland.
‘I regard the major reasons for allocating this site as the provision of affordable housing in a local centre with no other affordable housing allocation and the contribution it would make to a wider spread of development on the western side of Guernsey.’
Mr Holland visited the site and noted the predominantly open nature of land to the rear of the house and that the adjacent property to the west would also be included within the local centre, creating a large area of greenfield land with potential for development.
He said the land at Sandy Hook, L’Islet, was ‘very well related to existing residential development, public transport and retail facilities’.
‘The DPA is concerned about the loss of open space in the area but, given the nature of the surrounding development and the access to Picquerel Beach, this objection carries little weight,’ he said.
The other sites recommended by Mr Holland for affordable housing allocation were land at Route de Carteret, Cobo, land to the rear of Cranfield House at L’Islet, Le Penage in St Martin’s and a field at the rear of L’Aumone House.
He reviewed the assessment of other sites by the DPA and said that, other than the six sites he has recommended, none of the others were currently suitable for allocation.
‘Many of the sites are poorly related to existing main and local centre boundaries and/or do not relate well to existing development and community facilities,’ he said.
‘Allocating such remote rural sites would conflict with the Strategic Land Use Plan. A number of the sites have been discounted as they have been put forward as mainly or only private market housing sites. Inadequate access is an issue on many of the sites.’
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