14 November 2024
Demolition of the dilapidated, unused and former healthcare buildings at Overdale
is complete, as work progresses towards the construction of a new Acute Hospital
– the first major new building in the New Healthcare Facilities Programme.
Jersey Demolition Contractors, JDC, who started demolition at the Overdale site in
December 2023, have used a phased approach to safely remove more than 20
buildings and associated structures.
Since demolition started, JDC has:
- Crushed approximately 12,000 cubic metres of rubble on site for reuse in the
development of the Acute facility
- Recycled more than 4,000 cubic metres of materials from the site, preventing
unnecessary landfill.
Work to give back to the community is a priority for the New Healthcare Facilities
Programme. This has been fully embraced by JDC who has, amongst other social
value, added:
- More than 200 hours volunteering towards biodiversity at Overdale, including
planting and replacing hedgerows that were damaged by Storm Ciarán
- Sub-contracted work as part of the demolition project to at least 10 local
companies
- Provided more than 300 hours of training and development as part of the Overdale
demolition contract, enhancing the knowledge and skills of the existing workforce
- Employed 6 people facing barriers or challenges to employment to work on site
- More than £13,000 worth of charitable donations from the site, including timber
donations to local charities to support the circular economy.
The first and second phases of demolition works commenced following the
successful transfer of outpatient services from Overdale to the Enid Quenault
Health and Wellbeing Centre in summer 2023, and the third phase following the
relocation of Samarès Ward to St Ewold’s Residential and Care Home in May 2024.
During all the works, JDC monitored noise and dust, and worked hard to minimise
environmental impacts on neighbours, including the Crematorium.
Next steps
Subject to the approval of the recently submitted Planning Application and
continued support of States Members in the upcoming Budget debate – when the
funding for Phase 1 of the Programme will be determined – construction of the
Acute facility is expected to start in 2025, with completion anticipated by the end of
2028.
Site works at Overdale, including hoardings, clearance and other development
works, are scheduled to continue in the coming months. The purpose of these next
works are to continue to make progress where it is prudent to do so, providing
opportunities for the construction industry, and making it easier for a Main Works
Delivery Partner to begin more complex construction as soon as possible.
The procurement process to secure a Main Works Delivery Partner for the main
hospital building and ancillary infrastructure has begun, ensuring that a contractor
will be ready to begin permanent groundwork once regulatory approvals are in
place and conditions discharged. A Prior Information Notice, signalling the start of
more formal market engagement was issued last month. The tender process will
commence with a Pre-Qualification Questionnaire before the end of 2024.
Work continues to be underway to define the Kensington Place Ambulatory and St
Saviour’s Health Village projects in greater detail, and there will be early physical
works at both sites in 2025.
The Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Tom Binet, said: “I am very
pleased that we have marked yet another important milestone for the Programme
with the completion of the demolition contract at Overdale. Islanders have been
long overdue modern healthcare facilities, and while the road to get to this stage
has been long, we are now witnessing real, tangible progress.
“In the weeks and months ahead, I am confident that States Members will make
the right decision by approving the budget for Phase 1 of the Programme, and that
the Planning Committee will grant the project the necessary approvals, especially
given the approvals already in place for the previous scheme. With their support,
we can finally look forward to a ‘spade in the ground’ on this long-awaited project
next year.
“Finally, I would like to thank Jersey Demolition Contractors who have been an
exemplary partner in getting us to this stage. I would also like to extend my thanks
to neighbours and the Crematorium for their collaborative efforts with the
Programme team and JDC during the demolition process.”
The Minister for Infrastructure, Connétable Andy Jehan, said: “To facilitate
demolition, I am very pleased that alternative and improved facilities for
rehabilitation services at the Parish of St Helier’s St Ewold’s Residential Home was
identified.
“Islanders will remember that I fought hard for the facilities in Westmount Centre
to be re-opened, and the new facility at St Ewold’s represented a good alternative.
The removal of the former buildings has cleared the way for a new chapter of
healthcare facilities to be built at Overdale, and I look forward to construction
commencing next year.”
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