Common Strategic Policy 2026 – 2030 (P.75/2026): eighteenth amendment (P.75/2026 Amd.(18)) – amendment. Suitable housing development

2026  P.75/2026 Amd.(18) Amd.

COMMON STRATEGIC POLICY 2026 – 2030 (P.75/2026): EIGHTEENTH AMENDMENT (P.75/2026 AMD. (18)) – AMENDMENT

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After the words, "and support aspirations for suitable home ownership," insert the words, "including assisted purchase schemes,".

COUNCIL OF MINISTERS

Note:  After this amendment, the amendment would read as follows –

After the words "report accompanying this Proposition" insert the words –

", except that, on page 13 of the report, under Action 6.1 for the words "Enable housing development to provide more homes for Islanders and assisted purchase schemes" there should be substituted the following –

"Enable suitable housing development to provide more homes to Islanders where needed, and support aspirations for suitable home ownership, including assisted purchase schemes, and ensure communities are appropriately equipped to meet future demographic, social and infrastructure needs."

Note:  After this amendment, the proposition would read as follows –

  THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion

in accordance with Article 18(2)(e) of the States of Jersey Law 2005, to approve the statement of the Common Strategic Policy of the Council of Ministers as set out in the report accompanying this Proposition, except that on page 13 of the report, under action 6.1, for the words "Enable housing development to provide more  homes  for  Islanders  and  assisted  purchase  schemes"  there  should  be substituted the following –

"Enable suitable housing development to provide more homes to Islanders where needed, and support aspirations for suitable home ownership, including assisted purchase schemes, and ensure communities are appropriately equipped to meet future demographic, social and infrastructure needs."

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P.75/2026 Amd.(18) Amd.

REPORT

The Council of Ministers supports the principle of the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel's amendment.

Ministers agree that increasing housing supply should be considered alongside wider objectives  relating  to  housing  need,  the  aspirations  of  Islanders  to  access  home ownership and the infrastructure required to support communities.

The Council of Ministers welcomes the Panel's recognition that housing delivery must be considered alongside the infrastructure and community capacity required to support future growth. The reference to "suitable housing development" reflects the importance of ensuring that new housing responds to identified housing needs and is supported by appropriate infrastructure and community facilities.

The Council of Ministers also supports the proposed emphasis on supporting aspirations for suitable home ownership. Ministers remain committed to helping more Islanders access home ownership where this is appropriate to their needs and circumstances.

However, Ministers consider that the explicit reference to assisted purchase schemes in the Common Strategic Policy should be retained. Whilst assisted purchase schemes are not the only mechanism through which the Government can support access to home ownership, they remain an established policy tool that forms part of Jersey's approach to helping Islanders purchase their own home.

The Minister for Housing wishes to retain the ability to pursue assisted purchase schemes as part of a broader approach to supporting home ownership, having regard to housing need, affordability, market conditions and value for money considerations.

Assisted purchase schemes can provide Islanders with confidence that owning a home remains an achievable ambition, particularly for those who may otherwise face barriers to purchasing their own home. Ministers consider it appropriate that they continue to be recognised within the Common Strategic Policy as an important means of supporting suitable home ownership.

The Council therefore supports the amendment, subject to the retention of a specific reference to assisted purchase schemes within the revised wording of action 6.1.

Financial and staffing implications

There are no direct financial or staffing implications arising from this amendment. Any future financial or resource implications associated with assisted purchase schemes or other measures developed in support of these objectives would be considered separately as part of the development and approval of those measures.

Children's Rights Impact Assessment

The Council of Ministers considers that this amendment has no direct or indirect impact on children and that the duty to have due regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child does not arise. Accordingly, a Children's Rights Impact Assessment is not required under the Children (Convention Rights) (Jersey) Law 2022.

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P.75/2026 Amd.(18) Amd.