Movable construction village 'could last 20 years'

A temporary village for construction workers in Guernsey would be movable so it could follow building projects around the island, the States has said.

Some of the accommodation units could last 20 years or longer, with others designed to be used for a minimum of 10 years, Policy and Resources (P&R) said.

The comments came after a local builders' association said last week its members were "concerned" the States was "rushing through" proposals for temporary housing.

P&R said the housing units should pay for themselves through rent and would then be sold once they were no longer needed to recover costs.

The Guernsey Building Trades Employers' Association (GBTEA) said it recognised the "urgent need" for housing on the island but wanted to ensure a "level playing field" for local tradespeople.

A spokesperson for P&R said the village - intended for tradespeople moving to the island - would give Guernsey's building industry "more capacity" and allow "much needed development in Guernsey".

They also said the village would ease the burden on other accommodation such as shared houses, hotels and B&Bs.

Les Ozouets and Coutanchez were among sites being considered, P&R said.

Any villages would be subject to formal planning and building regulations, and managed under third-party service agreements, it added.

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