The Weekly Briefing from The Quarry

Dig Deeper with our data visualisations of the population management backlog

• Only nine of this year's 1,000 long-term employment permit applications have been refused, but 545 were still awaiting a decision on 22 October.
• Health and social care, hospitality and accountancy make up six in ten applications, and 325 of those still waiting.
• Applications for jobs outside the official policy list have fared worst, with 88 of 98 undecided.
• Home Affairs says application numbers are no higher than in recent years and has linked the pressure to the three-year limit on short-term permits.
• The permit team has grown from 13 to 16, with six temporary officers planned and a review of population policy about to start.

In other news...

• Guernsey proposes second electricity interconnector with two route options: £113m link to Jersey by 2030 or £209m link to France by 2034, with Jersey route offering lowest 30-year cost of £4.886bn
• Households face bill increases of £853 by 2036 under Jersey route (to £2,542 from current £1,689), though long-term increases remain below inflation over full 30-year period
• Second cable removes single point of failure in import system, addresses aging Vale Power Station fleet with generators over 50 years old, and enables transition away from heavy fuel oil
• Authorities propose graduated reduction in on-island generation security standards from N-2 to N once second interconnector operational, saving £1.85m annually in generation costs
• Policy & Resources Committee would receive delegated authority to provide loans up to £136m (Jersey route) or £253m (France route), with authorities investigating tariff mitigation measures including potential States equity injection

• 35 gamers will stream continuously for 24 hours from 10am Saturday to 10am Sunday to raise money for charity
• Beneficiaries are Guernsey Chest and Heart (cardiovascular screening) and Margo's Marvellous Mind (supporting a young brain injury survivor)
• Viewers can donate to trigger 'chaos modifiers' that handicap players with forfeits, point deductions, and video interruptions
• Guernsey Gaming For Good has raised over £48,000 for 25+ island charities since forming in 2014
• Organisers hope to exceed last year's £8,000 total in this year's marathon fundraising event

• Overnight visitors to Guernsey increased 9% year-on-year to 85,520 in Q3 2026, generating 433,831 bed nights, an 11% rise from Q3 2025
• Hotels accommodated 60% of staying visitors with occupancy rates reaching 84% in both July and August 2026, up from 79% in the same months of 2025
• Visitor satisfaction improved significantly with Net Promoter Score reaching 78 percentage points, up from 71 in Q3 2025, with 35% of feedback citing beautiful scenery and beaches
• UK visitors dominated arrivals at 62%, whilst French visitors showed strongest growth at 21% year-on-year, and cruise ship visitors increased 24% to 20,110
• Total departing passengers reached 210,875, up 6% from Q3 2025, with air travel increasing 8% to 106,898 passengers representing 51% of total traffic

• Average local market house prices reached £613,694 in Q3 2026, up 3.6% year-on-year and 10.7% higher than five years ago
• Properties took 268 days on average to sell, slightly longer than Q3 2025 (265 days) and significantly longer than Q3 2021 (168 days)
• Average rental prices were £2,134 per month, up 1.1% year-on-year but 33.5% higher than five years previously
• Housing stock increased by net 106 units in the year ending September 2026, with 157 units created and 51 removed
• Open market median price fell to £1,455,188 from £1,852,500 in Q3 2025, though remained above the £1,345,500 recorded five years ago

• Guernsey has published proposals to modernise labour legislation to meet requirements for participation in the CPTPP free trade agreement
• Three draft Ordinances will be debated in December covering minimum working ages for young workers, protected right to strike for non-essential services, and protections against trade union discrimination
• The island already benefits from preferential tariffs on goods through CPTPP, with further benefits available for the finance sector through enhanced cross-border collaboration
• The minimum requirements are non-negotiable, but subordinate legislation will be shaped through consultation with business, trade unions and workers
• CPTPP membership provides access to trading partners including Australia, Canada and Japan across the Pacific Rim

• The Bishop of Salisbury, Stephen Lake, has been suspended from ministry by the Archbishop of Canterbury amid ongoing investigations into financial misconduct allegations.
• Two formal complaints under the Clergy Discipline Measure are being investigated, relating to financial misconduct and conduct concerns raised with the National Safeguarding Team.
• Wiltshire Police are not taking action on the safeguarding concerns, and the allegations do not involve children, according to BBC reports.
• Lake voluntarily stepped down in April when an audit was launched into two separate funds connected to his office, distinct from parish share and diocesan finance board funds.
• The Diocese of Salisbury oversees Guernsey and Jersey, which transferred from Winchester Diocese in 2022, with Bishop Karen currently serving as Acting Bishop.

This week's audio briefing

The Weekly Briefing from The Quarry

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Roads this week

21 road closures start between Thursday 12 November and Wednesday 18 November, 6 of them on bus routes. Check your road or bus route on our live map, updated every two hours.

Thursday 12 November

• Route Militaire, St Sampson: New supply line. Until Tue 17 Nov. Buses 13, 21.

Saturday 14 November

• Guernsey Football Association, St Sampson: GFC match - road closure - -. Between peaks.

Sunday 15 November

• South Esplanade, St Peter Port: Tree Surgery.
• Le Truchot, St Peter Port: Crane Lift.
• Les Vauxlaurens, St Peter Port: Gutter Cleaning and clearing using a cherry picker.

Monday 16 November

• Longree, Vale: Install new water services and shut off old service. Until Mon 30 Nov.
• Longree, Vale: Install new electric services. Until Mon 30 Nov.
• Longree, Vale: Install new telecoms connection. Until Mon 23 Nov.
• Rue du Douit Manchot, St Saviour: Road resurfacing. Until Fri 20 Nov.
• Rue du Presbytere, Castel: Service alteration. Until Wed 18 Nov. Buses 51, 52.
• Route des Talbots, Castel: Tree Surgery at National Trust land. Until Tue 17 Nov.
• Rue du Pont, St Pierre du Bois: Tree surgery in lane between 8am and 4pm each day. Until Tue 17 Nov.
• L'Etonnellerie, Vale: Replace old water meters. Until Thu 19 Nov.
• Route des Pecqueries, St Sampson: Repair works to foul chamber. Until Fri 20 Nov. Buses 91, 92.
• Brock Road, St Peter Port: Sewer cleaning. Between peaks. Bus 31.

Tuesday 17 November

• Rohais, St Peter Port: Repairs to defective Asphalt. Until Wed 18 Nov. Buses 41, 42, N2.
• Back Street, St Peter Port: Repairs and refurbishment works to three streetlights.

Wednesday 18 November

• French Market, St Peter Port: French Market on Red Light Arm of Albert Pier. Until Sun 22 Nov.
• Les Rebouquets, Forest: Treesurgery work from cherry picker. Until Thu 19 Nov.
• Route de St Andre, St Andrew: Emergency Tree Surgery. Buses 71, N4.
• Salines Lane, St Sampson: CCTV, Cleaning and Sewer Repair. Until Thu 19 Nov.

Already closed, on bus routes

• Les Sauvagees, St Sampson: Route Militaire high and low voltage cabling connection. Until Fri 13 Nov. Buses 13, 21.
• Les Buttes, St Saviour: Tree surgery. Until Fri 13 Nov. Bus 71.
• Longree, Vale: New water services. Undertake in two halves, using traffic lights. Until Mon 16 Nov. Bus 13.
• Route de la Perelle, St Saviour: Cavity in the road. Until Tue 17 Nov. Buses 61, 91, 92, N3.
• Fort Road, St Peter Port: Fermain Lane Substation replacement phase 2. Until Mon 30 Nov. Buses 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, N3.
• Route Militaire, St Sampson: High voltage substation installation, high and low voltage cable upgrade and service…. Until Fri 18 Dec. Buses 13, 21.
• Route de la Hougue du Pommier, Castel: Install new 400mm water ring main pipework. Until Mon 21 Dec. Buses 41, 42, N2.
• Route de la Charruee, Vale: Upsize existing water main. Until Wed 23 Dec. Buses 41, 42, N2.

Source: States of Guernsey Traffic & Highways. Plans change; emergency closures can appear at short notice.

Planning decisions

18 planning decisions were issued between 2 November and 8 November: 18 granted and 0 refused. See every decision on our map.

Notable approvals

Electricity House, North Side, Vale, GY3 5TW: Guernsey Electricity Limited has been granted permission to replace the roof covering and install new air conditioning units with an acoustic screen at Electricity House. Planning officers concluded that the works, which include edge protection and a rooflight, would not harm the character of the Conservation Area when viewed in context with the existing power station infrastructure. Conditions require noise levels from the plant equipment to remain 5dB below background levels to protect nearby residential properties, and redundant equipment must be removed once the new units are operational. Applicant: Guernsey Electricity Limited.

17 other decisions on our map, mostly approvals for extensions and alterations.

New planning applications

12 new planning applications were registered between 2 November and 8 November. The first comments deadline is 20 November. See them all on our map.

Castel

Hotel Fleur Du Jardin, King's Mills Road: Erect single storey outbuilding to north of building (site of a Protected Building). Applicant: The Little Big Hotel Group Limited.

Forest

HR Air Building, Airport Service Road: Change of use of building from Storage and Distribution (Use Class 22) to motor vehicle repair workshop (Use Class 24). Applicant: Van Mossel Guernsey Limited. Comments by 20 Nov.

HR Air Building, Airport Service Road: Change of use of building from Storage and Distribution (Use Class 22) to motor vehicle repair workshop (Use Class 24). Applicant: Van Mossel Guernsey Limited. Comments by 20 Nov.

St. Peter Port

Channel House, Forest Lane: Change of use of first floor and second floor levels from office to Residential flat (Use class 2), erect dormer window. Install rooflight and create roof terrace at 2nd floor level to south (front) elevation, internal and fenestration alterations (Protected Building). Applicant: Mattalex Ltd. Comments by 27 Nov.

8 more applications on our map.

Source: States of Guernsey Development & Planning Authority weekly register.

Guernsey Gazette

Parking regulations across multiple Guernsey locations are being updated effective November 16, 2026, including removal of some spaces and addition of 11 new disabled parking bays.