Builders 'concerned' about construction village

A builders' association in Guernsey has expressed "concern" about a proposed temporary village to house construction workers on the island.

The Guernsey Building Trades Employers' Association (GBTEA) said it recognised the "urgent need" for housing on the island but wanted to ensure a "level playing field" for local tradespeople.

A spokesperson for GBTEA said: "We are concerned the States seem to be rushing into this scheme without having fully thought through the consequences."

The States has been contacted for a comment.

The GBTEA spokesperson said there had been no "dialogue or consultation" with the organisation and the project was "moving extremely quickly" compared to normal States' timelines.

The 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", they said.

The spokesperson added that the GBTEA had "very limited information" about how the temporary accommodation would be paid for, who could use it and how long it would operate for.

A similar temporary village for construction workers was build in 2012 opposite the airport by construction firm LAGAN to house its staff as it completed work to improve the runway.

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