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Time to act on housing problem
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It will, nevertheless, be generally acknowledged that the adequate provision of affordable homes has been a matter of concern here for many, many years.
But in the opinion of Chris Shepley and Alan Langton, the independent experts who have just examined the draft Island Plan, a chronic difficulty now has the proportions of a crisis. Furthermore, they say that politicians cannot afford to ignore the situation if they are interested in avoiding a potential housing disaster.
The two experts urge the States to make sure that the controversial housing section of the plan is debated next week when the House considers policies which will set the scene for development for the next decade. And there are very good reasons why Members should do exactly this.
To begin with, there is genuine and manifest need. Far too many Islanders are unable even to contemplate putting a first foot on the ladder of home ownership. This is a result of two principal factors – prices that are unaffordable, even when couples with average incomes pool two salaries, and a shortage of suitable properties.
But there is another dimension to the housing issue – the extent to which it divides Island society. Home ownership is a major determinant when it comes to defining our community’s haves and have-nots.
The experts who scrutinised the proposed new Island Plan could scarcely be more emphatic about the urgency of addressing housing matters politically.
Unfortunately, their advice will not be heeded if two politicians, Deputy Sean Power and Deputy John Le Fondré, successfully put off discussion of the housing section of the plan because of their belief that the States, rather than developers, should bear the burden of providing increased numbers of affordable homes.
The Deputies might well be eager to ask important questions about the right balance between private and public sector involvement in the provision of homes, but this has all the hallmarks of a secondary issue. As our independent advisers have counselled, the vital matter which must be considered next week is the fundamental need to commit to a strategy that will address the twin problems of availability and affordability as rapidly as possible.
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