Plan earmarks up to 300 affordable homes target

A work plan has outlined the government's intention to have up to 300 affordable homes built or under construction by the 2029 general election.

The Committee for Housing said the target was based on Guernsey's Outline Housing Delivery Plan which wanted to commission or begin building between 484 and 618 affordable homes by the end of 2030.

The cost of the affordable homes delivery would draw from the £150m loan facility previously approved by the States.

In 2024, a report from the government's Strategic Housing Indicator set a target of 673 new units of affordable housing by 2028, but none were built in 2025.

The States described affordable housing as "property that is reserved for certain groups of people who can't afford to rent or buy property on the private market".

The plan outlined delivery of housing would be done as "swiftly as possible" if the nine prospective building sites outlined previously by the States are confirmed.

The committee said the housing delivery plan is based on the States becoming "more directly involved in facilitating and commissioning affordable housing".

According to the Guernsey Housing Association's (GHA) most recent figures, the rented waiting list currently has 386 eligible households for accommodation.

Committee President Steve Williams said: "The main thrust of our plan is about how we activate and get new homes built."

Williams said the committee was "covering ourselves" by the targeted 300 affordable homes, including those under construction.

He "confidently" believed the States would reach the target of 250 to 300 homes within the timeframe.

Currently, only the GHA is registered to develop States-defined affordable housing on the island.

However, Williams said the committee is "talking to a number" of additional developers and "they're keen to work with us".

Of the £150m loan the affordable home delivery would draw from, Williams said "the rental stream and asset value of the house" would help pay it off.

Despite the lack of affordable housing construction in recent year, Williams believed there was a drive and initiative now as "everyone understands there's a housing problem".

He said there is a "willingness" from the planning authority, his committee and Policy and Resources to address the affordable housing shortage with this plan.

Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.