No affordable homes built in Guernsey last year

No new affordable homes were built in Guernsey last year, according to new figures from the States.

Officials describe affordable housing as homes which are reserved for certain groups of people who cannot afford to rent or buy property on the private market.

Last year 127 private homes were built, while 65 were removed from the market, meaning there was a net increase of 62.

In 2023, the States strategic housing indicator set a target of 1,565 additional units of accommodation by 2027, about 300 a year. This was revised a year later to 1,488 units being needed by 2028.

"I'm scared to grow older living here," said carpenter Ben Armitage.

He said that level of affordable housebuilding was "bad" and that he was surprised so few new homes were built last year, as he worked in the building industry and his trade was busy.

In 2024 one affordable unit was built, while in 2023 there were none built.

Head of Guernsey's Construction Industry Forum, John Bampkin said the sector had the capacity to build about 200 homes a year at the moment.

The President of Guernsey's Housing Committee Steve Williams said there are currently 355 units of housing under construction, which was a "five-year high", but he was "disappointed" by the figures from 2025.

"We'd really like to see a lot more housing coming forward, we've obviously inherited that situation, but what I think is happening is that some of those properties are being demolished, clearing the way for sites for new housing coming forward.

"We're aware of more affordable housing coming forward with Guernsey Housing Association entering into contracts this summer on the CI Tyres site and the Mallard site as well so that's going to be 139 properties for affordable housing.

"From the meetings that we've been having with private developers we're seeing a lot more new housing coming forward as well."

Following those meetings, Deputy Williams said one of the main barriers mentioned by developers was the high cost of building at the moment.

Williams' committee has created a new guide to how many new homes are in the progress of being built locally.

"Until now, there has not been a single, joined-up picture of housing delivery across the island, which has made planning and coordination harder for both industry and government," he said.

"The housing site availability framework changes that. It provides a shared view of the development pipeline that everyone can work from, using the same information, and assumptions.

"This will make it easier to plan ahead, identify issues early and work together to keep sites moving to deliver housing."

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