02 February 2010
Jersey Property Holdings is proposing to appoint property agents to assist in the sale and redevelopment of the former Jersey College for Girls (JCG) site in St Helier.
In 2007, a scheme to redevelop the front areas of this site was presented to the States. The rear section was to continue to be used by the Centre Point Trust for its child care operation. This added costs to the project and restricted the development value of the site and it was decided not to continue with the proposal.
During the past two years, Jersey Property Holdings has worked closely with the Parish of St Helier to find a more permanent home for Centre Point and it has recently been agreed that they will move to the former La Pouquelaye School buildings. The new location meets the continuing needs of St Helier’s Youth and Community services and provides the space required by Centre Point.
The move means the whole of the old JCG site can now be used for redevelopment. The Assistant Minister with responsibility for property, Deputy John Le Fondré, said: “This is an excellent example of the States working with the Parish and a number of organisations to find a solution which makes better use of a publicly owned property. As a result, valuable land has been released for urgently needed housing in St Helier. Property moves of this nature are clearly sensitive for all parties and for this reason we have not been able to release information on JCG until now.”
The sale of the formed JCG site for residential development was included in the 2010 business plan which was debated and agreed in principle by States Members in September 2009.
It is hoped an agent will be appointed in February and then expressions of interest will be sought from developers. The historic sections of JCG will be kept, restored and converted into good quality apartments as agreed with Planning in 2007.
However, there are a number of options available for the development of the rear of the site as Director of Jersey Property Holdings, David Flowers, explained: “The rear section increases the total development area of the site by more than 60% to 3.4 acres and as such offers one of the largest residential regeneration opportunities in this part of St Helier.
“This project will safeguard and restore an historic building that would otherwise have continued to deteriorate without investment. It will provide substantial economic benefit to the Jersey economy, permit the development of new housing as required in the Island Plan and act as a catalyst for further regeneration of the surrounding area. We are confident that the sale of the combined site will produce a significantly improved financial return to the public and will also generate a substantial amount of money that can be reinvested by the States in the future.”
The Minister for Treasury and Resources, Senator Philip Ozouf, said: “It is essential that the public achieves the best possible return on its property assets and I have tasked Jersey Property Holdings with making sure this happens throughout the States property portfolio.”
Work will soon begin on the refurbishment of La Pouquelaye. It is hoped tenders will be sought for the JCG site after Easter 2010.
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