"Mr Goddard said: "I looked at one estate agent's website and quickly calculated there was over 200,000 square feet of available office space - you only need 700 square feet for a two bedroom flat." "If we really do feel that we have a housing crisis, surely we should be looking at this first." Mr Goddard said: "We have people now working from home, we have digitalisation, we have the use of AI, we have automation, so why aren't we using these spaces to actually benefit the island and those that most need it?""
"Humphreys said: "There's an abundance of office space. It's about a balance but I do think it's quite achievable." She added: "As a housing committee we've already discussed levies and penalties for disused space - it's definitely part of our conversation.""
Guernsey faces a housing shortage with more than 1,000 people insecurely housed or at risk of homelessness. Local rental prices have risen 53% compared with five years ago. Vale Parish Douzenier Oliver Goddard highlighted over 200,000 square feet of available office space and noted a two-bedroom flat requires roughly 700 square feet. The Committee for Housing indicated that converting disused offices into residential units would be welcomed and that levies or penalties for empty space are under consideration. An application to convert Eton House into 12 flats has been submitted by PF+A Architecture.
Read at www.bbc.com
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