This Is Guernsey

By Nicci Martel

PART of the Grand Bouet estate could become a strategic industrial reserve if new sites can be found for social housing.

The Strategic Land Planning Group is looking at the feasibility of extending the Pitronnerie Road industrial estate eastwards into the Grand Bouet.

That would mean finding alternative sites to replace the 150 units of social housing planned as part of the latter phases of the Bouet estate’s redevelopment. The first phase, which will replace 54 homes with a similar density of one- and two-bedroom units, would not be affected.

In the Billet for next month’s States meeting, the Housing Department says reducing the high concentration of social housing in the Bouet would have advantages and would support the creation of smaller estates to replace these homes.

The SLPG is hoping to have fully investigated the idea by January.

In the Billet, Housing also reports progress on its corporate programme, which was approved by the States in 2003 as a means of providing a practical framework for implementing the States Housing Strategy.

This year saw the former Victoria Avenue estate demolished in readiness for the development of 57 one- and two-bedroom homes for older tenants.

The Mont Arrive estate was emptied and is now ready to be redeveloped by the Guernsey Housing Association and six partial-ownership homes at the GHA’s Hougue a la Perre development have been completed and sold, as have properties at Le Jardin de Haut.

Corporate programme priorities for 2009 include completing a review of initiatives to support first-time buyers, finalising proposals for a cross-departmental and multi-agency approach to improving the standard of lodging houses and staff accommodation and working with Health and Social Services on a key-worker housing strategy.

Housing will also work with that department on an integrated housing, care and support strategy for the elderly and to identify the needs of other vulnerable groups such as the physically disabled, people with learning disabilities and those with mental health issues.

In terms of States houses, the priorities are to continue the long-term modernisation programme, which has so far seen 132 properties undergo extensive redevelopment, 814 fitted with loft insulation and 600 given an electrical upgrade.

Article posted on 21st November, 2008 - 2.28pm