Latest news with #buildingprojects
BBC News
30-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Frustration over housing plans in north of Guernsey
Residents in the north of Guernsey have raised concerns about the lack of infrastructure ahead of new building projects, saying too many have been planned for their area.A total of 64% of the proposed 1,079 new dwellings planned in the island for the period 2025 to 2030 are set to be built in the north, according to St Sampson Douzainier Karl Adrian Gabriel, president of Environment & Infrastructure, said he was "pleased" residents were making their views known, and improving infrastructure in the area would "ease pressure" on the residents have told the BBC they feel "frustrated" and that some of the plans are "ridiculous". Mr Guille met with a number of Saltpans residents to hear their thoughts about developments planned for the area."There is some logic to building in the north because that's where the infrastructure is and that's where the amenities are," he explained."But we're talking at the moment about up to 1,300 new properties in the longer-term just in the area of the Braye du Val. "That's an awful lot."He said the planned work would exceed the capabilities of the infrastructure in the area and posed a flood risk."I think all that St Sampson is asking for is that the total number of properties is shared more equally across the island and I don't really think that's too much to be asking." Gabriel said while there were "a number of significant sites allocated for housing in the north of the island", planning the right infrastructure, like footpaths and cycle paths, was part of the process."Enabling the development of housing is a top priority for the States of Guernsey, and, collectively, we are taking an active role in facilitating new homes coming forward at the earliest opportunity."He added: "This is just one piece of a much larger puzzle that should, when complete, enable different sites to be well connected as they come forward for development, with further enhancements expected in the future. "This is especially true following the States' purchase of Leale's Yard." 'What planet?' Margaret and John Helyar have been residents of the Saltpans area since the 1980s. They said the proposal for a new road coming through the estate, and the height of new homes, worried them most."Some of the houses that are being proposed are four and five storeys," Ms Helyar said. "They're going to completely dominate the other houses, and we'll have no view across the site at all."It just seems to be just packing them in for the sake of it. And we're told it won't make much difference to the traffic. I mean, what sort of planet do these people live on?" She said residents did not feel their concerns were being heard."We've complained over the years, not just us personally, but everyone in the area. And it makes absolutely no difference whatsoever. "We feel frustrated that we feel that we don't get listened to." Peter de Garis said the opinions of people living in the north were not given the same weight as in the rest of the island."People couldn't care less about the north of the island. "You know, if there's any development proposed at St Peter's or Castel, it's 'oh no, we don't want this, we don't want that'. That's all listened to and taken into account by the planners. "But the north? No, let's just get more and more and more houses in the north. That's fine."
Irish Times
22-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Budget plan for €9.4bn public spending boost will be reconsidered if tariffs hit
Plans to spend an extra €9.4 billion on public services , tax cuts and building projects next year will be reconsidered if the US imposes tariffs on EU imports, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers said on Tuesday. But they, along with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris , pledged that if there is pressure on spending plans, they would protect infrastructure budgets and cut growth in current spending on public services, welfare and tax cuts to realise the necessary savings. The Coalition leaders launched a review of the National Development Plan (NDP), promising to spend €100 billion between now and 2030 – a €30 billion increase over what was planned – to improve water, energy, transport and housing infrastructure. [ National Development Plan shows the Government is about to bet big on capital expenditure Opens in new window ] The ambitious plans were overshadowed by the threat of a trade war between the European Union and United States, which Mr Donohoe and Mr Chambers admitted could compel them to revise plans published on Tuesday for a budget day package of €9.4 billion in October. READ MORE In the event of high tariffs, the Government would 'recalibrate its fiscal strategy' and reduce the budget package to keep public finances stable, said Mr Donohoe. Already, the plans for October's Budget 2026 envisage growth in public spending being trimmed from 8-9 per cent of recent years to 6.4 per cent next year. Mr Donohoe said there would be a package of tax cuts of some €1.5 billion. But he added that the cost of cutting VAT on hospitality – a Fine Gael election promise included in the programme for government – would amount to nearly €1 billion in a full year, meaning the scope for any tax adjustments to rates and bands would be reduced significantly. Tariffs: Why has Donald Trump threatened the EU again? Listen | 47:35 'It would not be right to grow the scale of our tax package,' said Mr Donohoe. The Coalition published the amended NDP and summer economic statement at Government Buildings on Tuesday. The NDP promises expenditure of €25 billion on capital projects in 2026, with the amount increasing every year and peaking at €28 billion in 2029. The total is set to reach more than €100 billion by 2030. The plan was immediately criticised for not identifying individual projects, though the Government did point to a small number of 'megaprojects', including the Dublin Metro and two big water schemes: the Shannon to Dublin water supply project and Greater Dublin Area drainage initiative. Social Democrats spokesman on public expenditure Cian O'Callaghan said the plan is 'so vague it doesn't even rise to the level of wish list'. Sinn Féin 's health spokesman David Cullinane said the allocation for health falls 'far short of what is needed' over the next five years. Labour 's Marie Sherlock, meanwhile, has said the €2 billion allocated for the MetroLink is 'hardly a vote of confidence that the project will be substantively progressed in this decade'. The summer economic statement, normally a key document in the preparation of the October budget, was considerably shorter and less detailed than usual. It contained several warnings, however, about threats to the State's public finances from several sources. [ NDP shows Government about to bet big on capital expenditure Opens in new window ] 'Even before the full impact of tariffs takes hold, it is increasingly evident that heightened levels of uncertainty have prompted firms to delay investment plans and households to step up precautionary savings. These headwinds are set to slow the pace of economic expansion,' it said. The document also warned that the 'headline surplus is now likely to be considerably lower than set out in the spring'. It flagged that spending pressures in several Government departments will require additional funding above their agreed allocations, prompting Mr Chambers to warn of the need for spending discipline and an end to bailouts in the second half of the year – a now familiar necessity in some departments.
