Action For Housing Criticises Westside Plans

Action for Housing has criticised the Government’s plans for 2300 homes at Westside, saying the development does not include general rental housing.

A statement from Action for Housing follows below:

Despite the overwhelming opposition from the many people who live in the area, the Government has confirmed to go ahead with the project to construct 2,300 homes under the so-called affordable housing scheme.

These flats will be built on a reclamation which will create around 47,000 square metres of new land in the northern half of the inner harbour in front of Westview Park and in front of the homes of all those who live in the adjacent area, hence the controversy.

Although we welcome the construction of new homes for our growing population, we very much regret and deplore that no homes for rental, other than pensioners' flats will be built on this site.

In their 2023 manifesto the GSLP Liberals said that they would build more homes for rental, and under the heading "General Rental Stock" they said that the GSLP Liberals would, if returned to office, build additional general rental stock in housing to effectively eradicate the waiting lists.

With some 800 applicants on the waiting list, it is becoming increasingly obvious that this promise will not be complied with, and those long-suffering applicants on the waiting lists will continue to languish and pass away whilst they wait for Government rental accommodation.