Derelict Vineries Could Provide Space For Housing

Deputy Steve Falla urges a Housing Task Force to seriously consider old greenhouses as land for housing.

Deputy Falla says the amount of land in Guernsey taken up by derelict glasshouses is substantial:

"It seems to me ridiculous that we're so short of space. And of the 75 hectares of derelict glass that we know is on the island, there must be sites, that with sensible precautions and conditions, could be considered for housing."

He's supportive of an announcement by the Policy and Resources president, Peter Ferbrache, that a Housing Task Force is set up to identify suitable sites. That would comprise politicians and building and construction professionals.

Deputy Falla wants them to consider old vineries:

"We might need to break some eggs to cook the housing omelette as it were. This is one area we could look at, where we might have to make and break rules, even in the short term, just to free up some land, and take a sensible approach."

He says one of the benefits of old vineries is that they're dotted all around Guernsey, and not just in the already heavily developed north:

"These sites are scattered across the island. One of the accusations that comes, particularly with the social housing agenda, is that we're putting everything in the north. There are glasshouses all over the island."

In March, the States agreed to a target of building 313 units of accommodation every year for the next five years.

“There are multiple challenges surrounding this but, rather than citing all the reasons why we can’t build on some former glasshouse sites, let’s put what is necessary in place, through the collaboration of relevant committees, to ensure that we can.”