Industry leaders are worried that allowing a Jersey-based firm to make use of a States-owned temporary workers village will backfire on the local construction industry – leaving Guernsey firms at a financial and logistical disadvantage.
The tender for the two temporary villages went live on Friday 31 January, and it closes on 28 February.
Documents seen by Express show that workers could be housed on the site where the new post-16 Campus is to be built and in a field near the current College of Further Education campus.
Key industry professionals from the local construction sector have told Express of their concerns around the plans – with further comment from representative bodies including the Guernsey Building Trades Employers Association and the Guernsey Construction Forum.
The GBTEA has reiterated that there was no consultation with the local construction industry sector before the project was announced as part of the 2025 Budget last year.
Therefore, it is claimed that industry insiders in Guernsey know very little about what is being planned and who could actually live in the temporary villages, while working on what projects.
“Whilst we recognise the urgent need for housing in all sectors, we have several serious concerns,” said the GBTEA Secretary.
“Currently, we have only very limited information on who would be entitled to use these facilities, how they would be costed and paid for within tenders and how long they would be in operation for. We hope to receive better clarity on these issues to ensure the facility does not disadvantage local employers bidding for work on States projects, and to understand how the financial case for this £5m investment stacks up.”
The GBTEA warns there could be unintended consequences for local firms if they are left to compete with off-island businesses who are given cheap accommodation for imported workers.
“We are concerned the States seem to be rushing into this scheme without having fully thought through the consequences.
“There needs to be a level playing field for local builders and trades people and our concern is that this project must not result in low- cost accommodation, built with public money, for off- island contractors to use for temporary imported labour to do work which could be carried out by local people.”
The GCF shares the concerns expressed by the GBTEA.
“The scheme’s financial justification, practical implementation, and potential to favour off-island contractors have raised concerns,” it said.
“The Industry fears the village may become a £5m failure once the initial project it was intended for is completed,” it added.
The GCF says that local construction firms have previously managed to import labour without being given States-owned accommodation units to house them – so why has the situation changed now?
“Deputy Trott has defended the initiative, citing industry concerns over labour shortages and accommodation availability. Historically, contractors have independently managed accommodation needs, successfully delivering various phases of hospitals, schools, commercial projects, and more than 1,000 GHA housing units.
“Neither Guernsey Construction Forum, GBTEA or Industry as a whole have been consulted in this expedient multi-million pound initiative perceived to assist its Industry and the Community.”
The GCF has posed a number of questions to Policy and Resources over the scheme which is says it wants answering so it can better understand the proposed project.
Ultimately, the GCF says it doesn’t want local firms put at a disadvantage through the temporary villages scheme.
“If local firms cannot use the village, it effectively subsidises foreign companies, giving them an unfair advantage while reducing tax receipts. This is a direct contradiction of States procurement policy. The rapid implementation lacking detail and economic justification raises serious concerns that we hope dialogue with the States will address.”