Earlier this month the JEP revealed that Chief Minister John Le Fondré was considering blocking States-owned social housing developer Andium Homes’ plans to build a 165-home scheme at Ann Court.
It has since emerged that Treasury Minister Susie Pinel has refused to sign a ministerial decision authorising a loan to Andium to fund the development, work on which was due to start within the next few weeks.
The social-housing provider has confirmed that it has now officially been advised that the project would be ‘paused’ until at least the new year.
A statement released by Andium says: ‘Andium Homes remains committed to delivering 165 much-needed homes on the Ann Court site.
‘However, we have now been formally requested to “pause” the project until the New Year. We are unable to sign contracts until the loan agreement is approved, so await a decision from Treasury on this matter.’
A spokeswoman added that the company did not want to make any further comment at this stage due to the political sensitivities of the project.
Mark Burton, director of building firm Camerons, which was due to be contracted to carry out the work, said that his company was ‘clearly concerned by the decision’.
‘We have provided a written statement to Andium outlining our concerns, which I hope will be put before the Council of Ministers for consideration,’ he said.
He also declined to comment further due to the commercial sensitivity of the situation.
The Ann Court scheme was due to comprise 130 one-bedroom flats, 35 two-bedroom flats and four commercial units. It was approved by planners last November.
The government’s new Common Strategic Policy, which was published earlier this year, said that affordable housing was at the top of its priority
list.
