A project to build 22 new flats and houses for keyworkers has been completed.
The Guernsey Housing Association managed the £5m project, working in partnership with Health & Social Care and Employment & Social Security to provide the accommodation. GHA will own and maintain the properties and rent them out to keyworkers employed by HSC.
The land at Beauville, Ville au Roi, was previously occupied by old HSC buildings, the former Priaulx Garage and a shop that was closed for many years.
GHA worked in partnership with HSC and ESS to provide high quality accommodation in order to help recruit and retain much-needed keyworkers. The finished project offers 14 one-bed flats, two two-bed houses and six three-bed houses.
Deputy Rhian Tooley, Vice-President of the Committee for Health & Social Care, said: “I am delighted to see the completion of these properties for keyworkers. For the first time HSC is able to offer families a place to live in purpose-built accommodation, which will be a real advantage in attracting skilled keyworkers and their families to come and live and work in Guernsey. I hope that we can work in partnership again with the GHA to develop more housing of this type.”
Deputy Shane Langlois, member of the Committee for Employment & Social Security, said: “We are pleased to have worked with the GHA and HSC on this much-needed development. As part of the Committee’s mandate for affordable housing, I recognise how important it is to provide suitable accommodation for staff at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.
GHA Chief Executive Steve Williams said the site was in a great location and would appeal to keyworkers working at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.
“It has been great to see this land put to good use. This has been a really important initiative for us because it demonstrates the GHA being able to meet an identified need. We look forward to seeing the first occupants move in and make these houses into homes.”
All the properties have been allocated to a mix of new recruits and current staff.
HSC has provided all the homes with carpets, light fittings and blinds (which are black-out blinds for night shift staff), as well as white appliances.
The one and two-bed properties will be fully furnished and equipped ready for their occupants.