Outline plans have been submitted to build new homes for Guernsey's key workers in a field at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.

Policy & Resources and the Committee for Health & Social Care have filed an application for outline permission for 66 flats on the field that sits in the valley at the Vauquiedor entrance to the PEH.

The plan is for a three and four storey building, consisting of one bedroom flats and other facilities. 

• A cycle shelter which will hold 50 bikes,
• Between 70 to 120 car parking spaces,
• 10 disabled parking spaces,
• And 20 motorbike spaces.

Deputy Dave Mahoney, from the Policy & Resources Committee, says there is a clear need to develop more of this kind of accommodation urgently.

"Having listened to the professionals, the closer these units are to the hospital, the more they are likely to suit the demands and needs of staff and the more likely they are to support vital recruitment."

Earlier this year, the States agreed that the availability and affordability of housing is a Government Work Plan priority.

 Image from the planning application OP/2022/2321

Both committees believe this is the best option to prevent already stretched health and social care services reaching crisis point because of the difficulty recruiting staff to an island where there's an acute lack of affordable accommodation.

Deputy Al Brouard, the president of the Committee for Health & Social Care, says being able to offer the right sort of accommodation, in the right location, is a big part of bringing more staff here.

“We need to do everything possible to attract staff so we can continue delivering these essential services which are under more and more pressure."

 An aerial image of the field near the PEH from planning application OP/2022/2321

The new homes would be built off the Rue Mignot, in the valley between the hospital and Vauquiedor offices.

The field has been the subject of much political debate.

In July, Deputies voted in favour of a land swap suggested by Deputy Neil Inder.

He'd suggested that if the field is lost to development, the States would buy another plot of land of similar size and return it to grassland for dairy farming.

A budget of up to £300,000 was approved for that purpose.

The Development and Planning Authority says islanders have 21 days to comment on, or object to, the application.