Lack of sheltered housing is now a ‘huge’ problem

Wednesday 4th April 2007, 12:00AM BST.

THE chronic shortage of sheltered housing for the elderly is getting worse by the week because Constables and planners are running scared of parish ‘nimbys’, the Housing Minister has said.

We need around sheltered homes 400 right now,’ Senator Terry Le Main said. ‘They are coming in on a daily basis. We need social housing now. We have a huge ongoing problem. My officers are tearing their hair out at the moment. The vast majority of the homes needed have to be ground-floor, one-bedroom units suitable for the elderly.’ He added that Constables needed to wake up to the problem and support building on sites such as Jambart Lane, in St Clement, and take their parishioners with them. The minister warned that he would be forced to seek to overrule the parishes in the States if there was not a change in people’s attitudes towards development soon.

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