WORK is under way to accelerate a plan to provide new homes, the Environment Minister has said.
In response to a written States question from former Environment Minister Jonathan Renouf, current minister Deputy Steve Luce revealed that he was “developing a prioritised programme” to deliver the proposals and policies in the Bridging Island Plan.
One of these, according to Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham, is the provision of new and affordable housing.
During his campaign for the top job, Deputy Farnham was a fierce critic of the speed with which the previous Council of Ministers moved forward plans to develop sites in the Bridging Plan which were rezoned for affordable housing.
In his written response, Deputy Luce has said: “I am developing a prioritised programme to deliver the Bridging Island Plan’s policies and proposals that aligns with and supports delivery of the government’s objectives, particularly in relation to the provision of new homes, over the remainder of this term of government.”
He continued: “Some of the proposals of the current plan are required to be implemented to inform the next Island Plan. In this respect, I am working to establish a clear understanding of the evidence that is required to inform its preparation, and a programme to deliver it.”
Deputy Luce added that the next Island Plan would be likely to include planning responses to “the Island’s need for critical elements of infrastructure associated with the management of waste” and the “adequate provision of minerals and water”.
He further said he wanted to consider how to increase the flexibility of the Island Plan, which could mean changes to the legal framework and its development process.
