Limited changes to IDP follow public consultation

Guernsey's Development and Planning Authority (DPA) has made "limited changes" to its Island Development Plan (IDP), following public consultation.

The proposed Vazon Local Centre site has been reduced in scale and affordable housing has been removed, while a potential site on Les Caches in St Martin is no longer available.

The DPA plans to replace the two lost developments for affordable housing with sites in St Martin and St Peter Port.

It said there would be further opportunities for public consultation on the new sites following the general election in June.

The public consultation is one of several launched by the DPA in recent years as it tries to settle on locations for development, in a bid to tackle the island's lack of housing.

The two new sites earmarked for development of affordable housing are School Lane Vinery, La Grande Rue, St Martin and Selbourne Vinery, Route des Coutanchez, St Peter Port.

The DPA said "most of us appreciate" more housing is needed in Guernsey but finding the "right sites that people are happy with requires compromise".

"We believe that our minor alterations deliver this compromise, enabling this process to move forward after the election," it said.

Keith Holland, the independent planning inspector overseeing the review, said 369 representations were made about the IDP.

"I am very reassured that islanders have taken the opportunity to again engage, which I am now affording my detailed consideration," he said.

He said the DPA had produced a "comprehensive group responses document" to address issues raised and ensure the right approach was taken on housing land supply and planning needs.

The full public comments and DPA responses are available on the States website.

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