Build upwards to achieve affordable housing on States-owned land
HAVING lived on the island for over 35 years, every time I hear politicians and others roll out the phrase ‘build affordable housing in Guernsey’ it makes me annoyed. The only way this would work is if the States of Guernsey built upwards on land they own. Why they don’t I have no idea. They could build apartments for first-time buyers at a price that would allow people (who are paying ridiculous rental prices to private landlords) to afford a mortgage and stay on the island.
The other thing that could be done is to set up a Guernsey mortgage and loan company that allows multi-generational mortgages, so that the length of the mortgage makes it more affordable for people to buy an average price home (currently circa £450,000) on current average salaries.
The problem with Guernsey government is that the committee-style consensus makes change very difficult.
And let’s be honest, there is a fair bit of vested interest within the island that certainly doesn’t help.
So for all of you expecting a fundamental change for the better and affordable housing, I am sorry to say that it will be business as usual and more of the same, as it always has been.
Pity as there are so many other things Guernsey could do – offshore wind farms and wave turbines to generate our own electricity, reducing carbon emissions by removing the ridiculously large petrol cars on the island, which by the way are three of the key Guernsey Green Finance objectives.
A la perchoine – or for those that don’t speak patois, ‘until next time’...
SIMON SMITH
Les Landes
Rue des Landes
Forest
GY8 0DB