Channel Islands Property Newsletter
Welcome to our first Channel Islands property newsletter of 2024, which brings you a roundup of the latest property news, legal updates and developments (as well as a few fun facts!).
In this edition, we look at what 2024 may hold for the commercial property market in both the Channel Islands and the UK.
We also provide useful updates on the latest environmental and sustainable housing initiatives, including a new assisted home ownership scheme recently launched by the Jersey government with the aim of supporting local people to get on the housing ladder.
You can access the individual articles by clicking on the summaries below.
Explore our latest issue
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New home ownership scheme helps Jersey residents get on the housing ladder
A new assisted home ownership scheme is being piloted by the Jersey government and Andium Homes, Jersey's largest provider of affordable housing, with the aim of helping locally qualified people to buy their first home.
In order to qualify for the scheme, successful applicants must meet certain criteria.
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Home Energy Audits launched by the Jersey government
In response to growing environmental concerns and the need for energy efficiency, the Jersey government has launched an initiative to promote Home Energy Audits.
The audits should provide a comprehensive evaluation of a home's energy use, and also offer tailored recommendations for improvements. They are crucial for understanding how energy is consumed and identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency.
The year ahead for Channel Islands' commercial property
What might 2024 and the year ahead hold for the commercial property market both in the Channel Islands and the UK?
Is commercial property more or less likely than other sectors to be affected by changes which might be brought about by a change in UK government? Might a new government bring about a refresh and some improvement?
In this article, we consider these key issues and their potential effect on the sector.
Affordable housing sites down the drain?
November 2023 saw the long-awaited publication of supplementary planning guidance comprising development briefs for 15 sites in Jersey that have been re-zoned for development of affordable housing.
However, whilst the development briefs aim to encourage developers to get these schemes out of the ground, many have complained that sites are uncommercial due to inadequate public drainage systems.
Planning and development - the proposed suspension of Policy GP11
A petition has been laid before the States of Guernsey proposing the Policy GP11 be suspended or removed.
Policy GP11 covers the provision of affordable housing and sets out Guernsey's Development and Planning Authority's policy for the provision of affordable housing.
(Mis)use of the Clameur de Haro
The Clameur de Haro, an ancient legal injunction deeply rooted in Jersey history, recently returned to the limelight in a case that garnered media attention after it was invoked by a Trinity landowner.
This centuries-old procedure entitles a person to bring an immediate halt to another person's actions in cases of wrongful interference with the claimant's possession of immovable property.
Larger homes, but fewer parking spaces
Supplementary planning guidance was issued towards the end of 2023, setting new rules for the minimum internal space for new homes and guidelines for parking in Jersey.
The minimum internal area for a single-occupancy one-storey dwelling has increased, and new housing developments will now be able to include reduced parking provision, with a maximum of one parking space per dwelling being proposed in St Helier's town centre.
If you want to know more about the issues covered in this newsletter, please get in touch with our Property team:
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About Mourant
Mourant is a law firm-led, professional services business with over 60 years' experience in the financial services sector. We advise on the laws of the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey, Jersey and Luxembourg and provide specialist entity management, governance, regulatory and consulting services.
