My manifesto:
Housing: A Home for All
The phrase “Priced out of Paradise” originated in Hawaii, but many Guernsey people feel the same about their own situation. The crisis we face is not unique and we need to beware of thinking there are simple solutions. Guernsey’s housing market is riddled with challenges: affordability, accessibility, and suitability. The States published the Guernsey Housing Plan in 2023 and no one could disagree with the strategic vision to provide everyone with “access to a range of good quality housing that is affordable, secure, energy efficient and adequate for their needs.” Crucially this work was evidence-based and concluded that Guernsey's housing market is in "systemic market failure" - something few would deny.
Now is the time to act - we must back first-time buyers, reform planning policies, and use States land more effectively. Teachers, nurses, and young families all feel the pressure. Despite what we read online, I believe there are no easy answers. Our plan should address the specific housing needs of groups like older people, key workers, and first-time buyers.
So what ...
No Easy Answers, But No Excuses Either
There are no simple fixes, but that’s no reason to throw up our hands. We need to take a measured, evidence-based approach, avoiding knee-jerk or poorly thought-out solutions that may have unintended consequences.
Take, for example, the relocation allowance. Introduced with good intentions, its full impact, particularly on the rental market and staff turnover, is only now becoming clear. We must proceed cautiously with future interventions to avoid repeating past mistakes.
Support Local People, While Meeting Workforce Needs
When I returned to the island in 1995 the benefit of being a "local" was clear. While we cannot turn back the clock, we must rebalance the housing market to better support local people, both renters and first-time buyers, without shutting out essential off-island workers. This means:
Prioritising locals in both the rental and purchase markets, where possible.
Ensuring key workers have access to affordable, appropriate housing.
Acknowledging that recruitment from off-island is still vital in some sectors - but making sure that any measures taken do not have negative consequences elsewhere
Link Housing with Education and Skills
In the long term, we should aim to reduce reliance on off-island recruitment by aligning our education and training more closely with Guernsey’s workforce needs. This includes:
Reviewing how post-16 education prepares students for real job opportunities on our island
Encouraging more young people to train in areas where we know they can thrive
Smarter, Balanced Development
We must allow for more development, but in a way that balances:
The financial needs of developers,
The social and housing needs of our population, and
The protection of our environment.
This means using States-owned land wisely, and reviewing planning rules to enable suitable housing where it’s needed most.
Address Specific Needs
Different groups have different housing needs. We must:
Provide suitable homes for older residents,
Ensure young families can stay and thrive in Guernsey,
Guarantee key workers have secure, affordable options.
The picture that links to this page is from Channel TV. Thanks