Time to stop all the talking over GP11

The takeaway was that there is much going on – but if islanders are hoping to see some significant solutions, they’re going to have to wait.

Housing was identified as an early political priority for this States of 2020-25. The Housing Action Group was established as a cross-committee group to move matters forward, with an accent on the ‘action’.

Deputy Roffey indicated that all is not necessarily joined up on the HAG, especially, it seems, over key worker housing. Although the HAG came together to secure the purchase of Kenilworth Vinery, it now sounds likely to wind up before the end of the year.

The rebuild of Les Genats Estate, carried out by the States with the Guernsey Housing Association, might create some 100 new units – but even that will make a mere dent in the waiting list.

And what of the role of the controversial housing policy GP11? Deputy John Dyke, who has spent weeks talking about and investigating getting the policy axed from inside the Development & Planning Authority, seized the opportunity to test Deputy Roffey on it. GP11 holding back development of affordable homes?

No, said Deputy Roffey. Uncertainty – the uncertainty that talk about cancelling or suspending GP11 is creating – is what is holding back the development of affordable homes.

Deputy Dyke says that developers are holding back big sites because they don’t want to comply with the policy, which would means they’d have to set aside a certain number of plots on the development for affordable housing, and take a financial hit. The developers are on his side.

Deputy Roffey counters that without uncertainty, some sites would be starting to come through. But it is human nature, he accepts, not to rush in if you fear you’re going to lose out from doing so.

The GP11 wrangle has been going on for long enough. The DPA is supposed to have done the background work to clarify if it is still capable of doing a job for the island. It’s time to come out either way.