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1240/5(7220)
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR HOUSING BY DEPUTY M. TADIER OF ST. BRELADE
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 20th NOVEMBER 2012
Question
Has the Minister or the Department given any consideration as to whether a parish-based social housing/affordable housing scheme (perhaps mirroring over 55s schemes) would be a feasible and desirable way of helping to achieve the target of the 1,000 new affordable' and social rented' homes alluded to in point 7.20 of the 2011 Island Plan?
Answer
I am not sure that the specific reference to the Island Plan in the question is correct, however, the Plan itself clearly demonstrates that the Parishes have an important role to play in the provision of housing. It is notable that we have recently seen very successful schemes being delivered by the Parishes of Trinity , St Peter and St Mary. I know that other Parishes have schemes planned and there are a number of other sites zoned for the development of homes for the over 55s approved in 2008 which are not presently being developed.
I certainly agree that the Parishes have an important role and I am keen to explore means of working collaboratively as we are already doing with the Parish of St Saviour.
Irrespective of who delivers the homes which we very much need; what we must ensure is that the delivery is coordinated and that the affordable homes built are targeted at those in the greatest housing need. That is why I am particularly proud of the Housing Transformation Programme which will place social housing provision on a more sustainable footing. I also look forward to the development in 2013 of the additional components of a long-term cross-tenure housing strategy which will include the provision of affordable homes to purchase.
The Affordable Housing Gateway has been in place for almost 12 months and is now the single waiting list for the social housing administered by the States and the Housing Trusts, ensuring that all social housing vacancies are allocated to applicants on a priority basis. The Gateway has also been used to allocate a tenant to a vacancy in a Parish development.
OTHER INFORMATION
Section 6 of the Island Plan 2011 deals with Housing and paragraphs 6.106 to 6.131 deals specifically with Affordable Housing.
Section 7 of the Island Plan 2011 deals with Social, Community and Open Space
At paragraph 7.20 the plan says:- Within existing secondary school provision in Jersey, there is a known deficiency in the extent of playing field provision available to Haute Vallée School: this is also evidenced by the Outdoor Open Space, Sport and Recreation Study(5). To address this deficiency, it is proposed that the western half of Field 1219, immediately to the south of the school and the existing playing field, is safeguarded for this purpose.'