Caring About Guernsey's Future - Housing Dynamics And A Need For Housing Reform

Deputy Paul Luxon, Tony Rowbotham of Montagu Evans, Professor Christine Whitehead OBE and Ogier's Claire Smith formed the panel for yesterday's debate on ways to revive the property market in Guernsey.  Professor Whitehead, economics professor at the London School of Economics and former Director of the University of Cambridge Centre for Housing & Planning Research, gave the keynote speech setting out her thoughts on Guernsey's housing waiting lists, housing targets and the proposals in the Island Development Plan to secure affordable housing on private housing development sites via planning covenants.

Professor Whitehead noted that Guernsey has the lowest housing needs waiting list of any mainland British local authority, but cautioned against relying solely on the Guernsey Housing Association or any one tool, to meet the future housing needs of the Island, advocating instead 'a basket of measures'.  This approach she suggested, should include detailed consideration