A REFURBISHMENT of 56 apartments near the hospital has been completed in a bid to provide more accommodation for key workers.
Westaway Court has been temporarily brought back into use after work was carried out on the 47 low-rise and nine high-rise apartments on the site, which was purpose-built for medical workers in 1976.
The site is part of the government’s property portfolio, but has been moth-balled for several years while plans for the new hospital are finalised.
Many of the apartments were dilapidated and had previously been earmarked for potential demolition.
Health Minister Karen Wilson confirmed last year that refurbishment work would be carried out on Westaway Court to help retain and recruit key workers.
Increasing the amount of key worker accommodation in Jersey is one of the priorities outlined in Chief Minister Kristina Moore’s 2023 Ministerial Plan, targeting an additional 100 homes this year.
Deputy Moore said: ‘The availability of accommodation in Jersey for our essential workers, particularly in the areas of health and education, became an urgent issue for this Council of Ministers. It was clearly impacting on our ability to recruit and retain staff in critical roles.’
She added: ‘The location of Westaway Court, so near to the hospital, makes it particularly suitable for use by health colleagues. We know that having access to good and affordable accommodation plays an important role in wellbeing and will help us to attract and keep those people with the vital skills our Island needs.’
Some key workers have already moved into parts of the site in recent months.
Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet said: ‘I’m pleased the team have been able to refurbish these apartments and bring them up to the required standards so promptly, following the go-ahead for the project which came towards the end of last year. We had an immediate need to increase the supply of homes for colleagues in health and CYPES, and Westaway Court was available as a solution.’
He added: ‘I’d like to thank all those who’ve worked so hard on this over the past few months.’
