Last November, Treasury Minister Susie Pinel refused to sign off a £37.8 million loan to Andium Homes, the States-owned social housing developer, to start work on their 165-unit affordable scheme at the site.
Chief Minister John Le Fondré is understood to be considering alternative uses for Ann Court, including for the potential construction of a new States headquarters.
The Growth, Housing and Environment Department, which currently leases the site from Andium, has applied to renew permission for its use as a car park, which expired at the end of 2018, for another six months.
Next week, the States are due to debate a proposition tabled by former Environment Minister Deputy Steve Luce, which, if approved, would see the Treasury Minister requested to release the funding necessary for Andium’s scheme.
Dominique Caunce, head of communications at Andium, said that if the proposition was passed and the project was revived then Andium would not have to wait until Growth, Housing and Environment’s permission had expired to press on with their plans.
‘Had we been able to sign contracts last October as planned, then they [Growth, Housing and Environment] wouldn’t have been renewing the car parking,’ she said.
‘So, in some ways this is a result of the delay but it was always part of the original planning permit that the area would be used for car parking until such time as the contractors needed vacant possession.
‘Depending on the outcome of the States debate next Tuesday, and should the proposition be adopted, then we would give notice to Growth, Housing and Environment to vacate – they don’t have to stay for the full six months and clearly we will want to get on with the development.’
