13 May 2021
The Government has exchanged contracts with Jersey Office Development (1.J) Limited (JOD) to build the new Government office and customer service centre on the site of Cyril Le Marquand House.
Developers JOD, with Dandara Jersey Limited as their main contractor, took possession of the site on 1 May and will prepare a planning application for the new building.
When completed, the new development will allow the Government to consolidate its existing office estate into a central main office for non-frontline staff, with operational sites elsewhere. It is estimated that the move will save up to £7million per year, which includes the savings of not needing to maintain the existing office estate.
The States of Jersey will continue to own the land and the developer will fund the construction of the new building, which is expected to be complete in 2024.
The Government will initially occupy the building for up to three years, during which time there will be an option to buy the building at a pre-agreed price. If the Government does not buy the building, it will enter a 22-year lease on pre-agreed terms.
As well as reducing the environmental footprint of the existing office estate, completion of the building also means that existing sites can be used for social housing, new-buyer housing, and other essential redevelopment.
Minister for Infrastructure, Deputy Kevin Lewis, said: "This construction of the new building will support the Island's economic recovery by creating employment opportunities within the local construction industry. We expect that the new development will stimulate the regeneration of areas around Parade Gardens and Union Street by increasing footfall and encouraging business and commercial activity nearby.
"As well as addressing issues of outdated and poor working environments for employees, the new building will benefit customers through the provision of many more services in one central place."
Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré, said: "Streamlining the Government's office property estate has been on the agenda for the past fifteen years, so I'm very pleased that we are now able to take this important and necessary programme of work forward. Reducing our operational property costs and providing a modern working environment, where employees can work together more effectively, underpins the modernization of public services.
"Importantly, the positive impact of the development will help the Island's economic recovery as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and free up sites for much-needed housing and other developments."
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