More from the pragmatic development authority

The committee, by the very nature of its mandate, is always going to be one of the most controversial within the States. It has given the impression at times, rather like a bank’s famous advertising of decades ago, that it likes to say ‘yes’ more than no. Which pleases applicants and upsets opponents.

And then there is GP11, where the authority has sometimes been less than robust in defending one of its own strategic policies.

So much of what the DPA has done in recent years could be said to be pragmatic.

The message alongside its new ‘call for sites’ seems to be similarly so, and will be welcomed by many. A decade ago, 500 sites were offered up for housing development. If the DPA wishes to accommodate the strategic need for more house-building, it may well have to accept more.

Its president appears keen to pragmatically pursue brownfield rather than green field development, and has said that ‘common sense’ will be uppermost in its thoughts. But the DPA will have to tread carefully to ensure consistency of treatment for all submissions assessed.

There appears to be a willingness to take new housebuilding out west too, which is likely to be welcomed and opposed in equal measure. But again it seems, in the circumstances, pragmatic.