THE redevelopment of Fort Regent has taken a step forward after it emerged that ministers are collaborating with the Jersey Development Company to progress plans.
Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan revealed in a letter to the Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel that he was no longer taking full responsibility for the transformation of the much-loved but long-neglected St Helier site.
Instead, he is “working with” the government-owned JDC to refine proposals.
The Constable of St John also told the JEP that he hoped to have planning permission for the project “in place” before the end of this term of office in mid-2026.
News of this collaboration comes three months after Mr Jehan told the same panel that he had seen “exciting” £80 million proposals for the site, which included a permanent skate park, play areas and visitor facilities.
He said at the time that costs to run and maintain a revitalised Fort Regent were still unconfirmed and that the fate of the plans rested with a States Assembly vote.
Most sports clubs have relocated from the site, which has been in limbo for several years after proposals lodged by former Chief Minister John Le Fondré’s government were scrapped by Deputy Kristina Moore’s Council of Ministers for being “infeasible in the current economic climate”.
Those plans – which were to take shape over ten years – featured proposals for a multi-purpose venue for conferences, sporting events and concerts, alongside a hotel, cinema, ten-pin-bowling alley and casino.
Speaking to the JEP yesterday afternoon, Mr Jehan said the redeveloped site would have “something for Islanders and visitors alike that is sustainable and practical”.
He added that progression of the project by the JDC was not a case of handing over responsibility of the site, but that ministers were “working with” the government’s development arm.
He said: “We’re collaborating with them, so the site is still very much a States of Jersey site, but we have a company that specialises in development and we are utilising its skills to come up with some designs and get us to the next stage.”
Mr Jehan said he was not ready to share further details about the plans yet, but said “hopefully we will be in a position to share more” after meetings scheduled to take place this month.
He added: “We would hope to have plans and planning permission in place during this term of office.
“The key is going to be the revenue. Whatever we put there has got to be sustainable and that is our challenge. We are working hard on that element, because there is no point in starting something that we can’t sustain.”
Mr Jehan has previously said to Scrutiny: “We’re quite good at finding capital to build new, shiny things, but where we’ve struggled in the past is with maintaining these assets of ours.”
The JDC said it would not comment about the future of the site.
However, in a statement, it said: “The Jersey Development Company is aware of the letter sent from the Infrastructure Minister to the chair of Environment, Housing and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel regarding SoJDC progressing Fort Regent.
“Discussions regarding the project are still in the early stages and SoJDC are not in a position to comment at this stage.”
