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WQ.185/2021
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR TREASURY AND RESOURCES
BY SENATOR S.Y. MÉZEC
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 26th APRIL 2021
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 4th MAY 2021
Question
Following the adoption of P.165/2020, will the Minister indicate when she will be presenting to the Assembly a report outlining the proposals for affordable housing on the Waterfront site?
Answer
The Minister is responding to this question on behalf of the Council of Ministers against whom the obligation in P.165/2020 rests.
In amending the original Proposition, the Council of Ministers deliberately set an ambitious deadline for the presentation of a report, being cognisant of SOJDC's need to submit planning applications and not wishing to be keep States' Members waiting unduly.
P.165/2020 requests the Council of Ministers to present a report to the States Assembly which provides guidance to be used by SoJDC in the planning process for the Waterfront Development.
Whilst the Proposition required the Council to present the report by the end of 30 April 2021, there have been a number of developments which Council believes should be considered when formulating the guidance prior to the presentation of the report. One of the key developments was the recent publication of the draft Bridging Island Plan which includes the provision of the rezoning of a number of sites specifically for affordable housing developments. Further, the Housing Policy Development Board's report has been published and the recommendations therein have to be reviewed in the context of, not just the Waterfront Development, but the Island as a whole. These developments are relevant to the Council's holistic view of, and more forward-thinking approach to, housing needs rather than dealing with them on a site by site basis, in isolation.
Notwithstanding the above, work on the formulation of the guidance is advanced in the light of the public release of these documents and the latest estimates of the costs for the public realm and infrastructure improvements which form a critical element of the Waterfront Development.
The Minister is confident that the report will be presented to the States Assembly by the end of May 2021. Whilst this is beyond the original deadline, the Minister hopes the Senator recognises that this allows sufficient time for the Council to give due consideration to a vital report to support the success of this significant development, which will in turn contribute to the health and well-being of all Islanders.