Policy to provide affordable housing

20 June 2011

Senator Freddie Cohen, the Minister for Planning and Environment, has provided further details on how affordable housing will be achieved through a new policy in the Island Plan.

The policy expects developers to provide affordable housing on all large housing sites and in so doing removes the necessity to rezone land in the countryside. The plan also proposes that the States uses its own land to provide much needed affordable housing for Island families.

The affordable housing mechanism will be smoothly phased in over a number of years and will be consulted upon annually with the development industry and other interested stakeholders. The annual consultation will maintain flexibility, will react to changing market conditions, and will ensure that a viable construction industry in Jersey is maintained and encouraged.

This policy complements the use of States-owned land for much needed affordable housing and has been supported by the independent planning inspectors.

The plan will also include an important trigger that will ensure that if States-owned sites do not come forward quickly enough, then the plan will need to be reviewed. This trigger provides a backup and makes it clear that affordable housing delivery on public land is entirely in the States' hands.

Previous Island Plans have involved the loss of countryside and multi million land value profits for those fortunate to own the rezoned fields. This Island Plan delivers both affordable and open market housing, expects more from developers and landowners, uses land that has been already developed and protects the precious green countryside of the Island.

Island Plan statement from Minister (17 June 2011)