Policy & Resources backs housing being built on a prime plot of land on the Bridge with views over the Little Russel among a series of planning changes.

It has outlined a dramatic new vision of where land for industry should be provided, with a new focus on moving this to large States-owned former vinery sites in St Sampsons that had been reserved for housing for decades with nothing being built.

As well as freeing up the remaining undeveloped parts of the Saltpans site entirely for housing, it would allow Griffths Yard on the north of the Bridge to be emptied for another housing development.

The Guernsey Development Agency has also previously suggested land reclamation in this area.

P&R’s response to a review of the master document that dictates what can be built where, the Island Development Plan, made six key recommendations, some of which have led to a major rethink of what is now being proposed while others lie outside the six year timeframe under consideration.

Parts of its representation to the DPA were to “ensure the IDP provides policies and land to help stimulate investment in the St Sampson’s area”.

“A key objective of these proposals is to remove the barriers to development in the St Sampson’s harbour area and provide additional housing, while at the same time recognising land for employment and in particular make best use of States of Guernsey land to accommodate the less attractive land uses which are nonetheless essential.

“The overall plan would result in greater residential development in prime harbour frontage with the resultant socio-economic benefits, and an amalgamation of industrial land to co-locate business with associate benefits such as rationalising areas of hazardous development.”

P&R has proposed:

Rezoning of Griffiths Yard from industrial to residential:

“This is to release prime seafront estate to help re-imagine, re-generate and stimulate investment into the St Sampson’s harbour area as envisaged in the current work of the Guernsey Development Agency.

Rezoning of the Belgrave Housing Allocation area to industrial (Fontaine and Belgrave vineries), excluding Duval Vinery at the north east of the site:

“This is to accommodate the businesses in Griffiths Yard as well as other areas, and to mitigate against the cost of flood defences, land raising and other significant infrastructure costs that will need to be expended prior to any residential development and which are demonstrably impeding development.”

P&R argues it will be costly and challenging to construct flood defenses in the timeframe that the island needs new homes.

“This level of funding achieves maximum return for taxpayers if invested in homes and road infrastructure at the Saltpans site fully developed for housing.”

Increasing the remaining land on the Saltpans site to 100% housing:

This will also allow, it argues, better transport infrastructure in the area opening up improved access to pre-existing housing allocation sites which will then be more attractive for private developers to build on.

Re-designating land at Longue Hougue as a key industrial area:

“It is imperative that this opportunity is taken to fully consider current and future needs and to use land wisely so islanders have the best living environments possible, as is currently being explored by the Guernsey Development Agency and will be further considered in the Planning Inquiry for the Harbour Action Area Land Planning Brief.”

In response, the DPA has backed the zoning changes at Belgrave/Fontaine, but wants to include Duval, and the Saltpans change.

It envisages the land here coming forward in three phases, from the north of the site adjacent to Duvaux Road first where the flooding risk is lowest.

“Overall, the analysis shows that the majority of five year [employment] land supply requirement can be met by identified Phase 1 lands at Belgrave Vinery Housing Allocation with the inclusion of Duval Vinery being key to this change. Phase 1 should provide the potential for a high quality business park,” the DPA has said.

P&R has also successfully pushed for the proposed inclusion of the KEVII and adjacent States land to be included within the boundaries of the L’Aumone Local Centre so development here can be planned alongside the Castel Hospital to allow for some housing.

All the proposed changes to the IDP need to go to the Independent Planning Inspector who will compile a report with recommendations and then need to be approved by the States.

People can still have their say on what is now being proposed.

Have your say

You can read a summary document of the DPA’s proposed revised changes at gov.gg/IDPReview where you can share views on the changes before 31 March 2025. 

Alternatively, there is a paper form which is available from the webpage or from Edward T. Wheadon House, Le Truchot.

It is important to note that comments are only being invited on anything which has changed from the draft amendments published in June 2024. 

Other draft amendments from June 2024 which have not been revised are still proposed but not subject to consultation at this time. 

Any comments submitted last year will still stand and will be considered by the Planning Inspector as part of the planning inquiry process. 

You can submit new comments, or update previous comments on relevant areas.

If you need any help having your say on these proposals, contact the Planning Inquiry team by calling 01481 223441 or emailing Planning.Inquiries@gov.gg.

After the consultation period has closed, the DPA will provide responses to the comments before the election. 

It will then be for the newly-constituted Authority to invite further comments on those responses.