Residents and States clash over future of vinery

Plans for up to 50 affordable homes have been defended by a planning authority, despite opposition from residents and an independent planning inspector.

Neil Inder, president of Guernsey's Development & Planning Authority (DPA), said the authority disagreed with parts of the inspector's report that did not support developing Whispers Vinery or turning the surrounding area into a local centre.

Speaking after a public meeting on Wednesday, attended by dozens of parishioners, local resident Nick Guillemette said he was against the plans as there was "too much development in the area already".

The States is due to vote on the proposals later in November.

The area was previously considered by an independent planning inspector, who recommended against both the local centre designation, and the allocation of Whispers Vinery for affordable housing.

"We just disagreed," Inder said.

He said any future planning application would still need to address issues including traffic management, flood risk, and surface water drainage before homes could be built.

"If they all fail then that doesn't go ahead.

"We've elected to spread the housing allocation areas across the island, not just bury them all in the north.

"The reality is everyone wants housing... they just don't want them next to them."

Guillemette said the surrounding area had already seen significant housebuilding over recent decades.

"If you're going to throw another 40 to 50 in there, it's going to make the flooding risks and the traffic problem worse," he said.

He also questioned why the authority had continued with the proposal after commissioning an independent review.

"So that money was our money, taxpayers' money, and they just decided, well, OK, we're going to ignore that and still carry on with it."

The proposals were also backed by Steve Williams, president of the Committee for Housing, who said Guernsey faced an urgent need for affordable homes.

"There's a pressing need for housing across the island for all generations and all ages," he said.

"Vazon really ticks the box in terms of it provides some facilities for people to live and enjoy."

Residents argued the greenhouses should be used for growing, but Williams said the landowner had no plans for using them commercially.

"The trouble is if the owner of that glass is not growing and is not going to be growing commercially and it's not viable, then it's just going to stand there and fall to pieces like so many other vineries around the island," he said.

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