More new houses are being built in Guernsey now than at any other time in the past five years, with more coming too.
There were 355 homes under construction in Guernsey at the end of last year – which was also 34 properties above the 10-year house building average.
The Development and Planning Authority had also given planning permission for 113 new homes to be built across 33 sites in the last quarter of last year, meaning more permissions are now in play than since 2016.
When those properties are built they will mainly be in St Peter Port and across other ‘Local Centres’ as identified within the Island Development Plan. The largest site approved towards the end of last year is on the Ruettes Braye with planning permission given for 28 flats to be built on the former Best Foods site. Outline planning permission was also granted for 85 homes at the Mallard Complex in the Forest.
No new planning permissions were granted for the Bridge Main Centre in the last few months of last year.
Deputy Neil Inder, President of the Development & Planning Authority, said his committee will be looking at other options open to it to speed up work on proposed development sites.
“Active engagement is the new model for the DPA,” he said. “Bringing confidence back into decision-making will be key to the Authority’s success. That approach is already reaping rewards, and there is more to come.
“The Authority also has other policy development areas that will help smooth the planning process. We are considering fast-tracking some of the larger sites, and the digital programme remains on track to be delivered by the middle of the year.”
Deputy Inder said the DPA is also looking at new models of housing for Guernsey, including ways to allow families to remain living together.
“The Authority is developing plans around the concept of multi-generational living,” he explained.
“This will look at what can be permitted for homeowners who wish to care for older relatives or accommodate returning family members. A solution will be announced in due course.”
Deputy Inder showed his usual bullish approach to his work – promising that his committee will deliver on the island’s housings needs during this term of office.
“I have a very strong Committee, and all members are driven by a single objective: delivering homes for the people of Guernsey. If we get this right — and I am confident we will — we can deliver many more homes during this term.
“I have said it before and I will say it again: the market is driven by confidence. Build confidence in policy and in people, and you are on the path to delivery.
“These are exciting times, and I would like to thank investors, developers, and the wider island community for helping to keep the economy moving.”
Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller is the vice-President of the Committee for Housing, that was only set up last year to try and deal with the ongoing housing crisis.
She said the increasing number of homes being built is good news – but there is still work to do.
“It’s been great to see the uptick in the number of homes being built, which is a key objective of the Committee for Housing,” she said.
“While there will be many factors that are leading to this, the Committee has been focused on site-specific work, including engagement with individual key landowners and developers to understand why sites that can provide ten or more homes are not progressing and what government might be able to do to unlock these sites for much needed housing. This engagement has been well received and has enabled some sites to move forward. Toward the end of last year, we expanded this to focus on sites that can accommodate between five and ten homes to understand what is stopping development from coming forward.
“It’s really promising to see this progress and we look forward to continuing to work together with the industry to deliver more homes for Guernsey.
The increase in the number of properties being built, and planning permissions being given, was announced less than a day before the States published the latest purchase and rental price averages.
The latest property sales and rental data confirmed that both sectors have seen continued price rises over recent years.
Average rents are now 57% higher – at £2,162- and house purchase prices 21% higher – at £595,820 – than they were than five years ago.