New head of Housing keen to start Leale's Yard

This hopeful update comes from the newly-elected president of the specially-formed States Housing Committee, who said that progressing the brownfield site is one of his main priorities.

Deputy Steve Williams was reported by the Guernsey Press today saying that there is every hope that the scheme can be salvaged.

"It seems to be very advanced in the planning. Obviously things have fallen a bit on the financial side but I think work is still continuing," he told the newspaper. 

Deputy Williams (pictured) plans to meet site owner the Channel Islands Co-op and developer Omnibus Investments as soon as possible to see whether the long-awaited regeneration project – supported in principle by the Vale Douzaine – can be salvaged.

Up-to-speed
Guernsey's newly-elected deputies are meeting officials as part of an induction process and being brought up to speed on work that the States is currently involved in. 

Deputy Williams, the former CEO of the Guernsey Housing Association, said that as soon as that was complete and they had the full picture, his committee would want to press on with the scheme.

Since Deputy Williams left the GHA, its focus has switched from building new homes to maintaining its existing portfolio of properties. As president of the Housing Committee, which was formed by the States in response to the housing crisis, Deputy Williams wants to press on with constructing more new homes and seeing existing permissions developed.

• In his manifesto, Deputy Williams said: "Vote for me and I will commit my time and energy to doing what I can to improving the housing situation, aiming for more housing availability for a cross-section of Guernsey people. My key aim is to deliver real results in tackling our housing problem, as quickly as possible."