Local contractors only will be used for three major projects, which have a total value estimated at between £125 and £150 million and will deliver more than 550 apartments.
The projects are being lined up as part of efforts to help Jersey shake off the massive economic impact of Covid-19.
Andium, which is government-owned and has pledged to deliver 3,000 new homes within the next decade, is also looking to start eight smaller developments with a combined value of more than £30 million to ensure a conveyor belt of work for Island companies.
The housing provider’s announcement follows a unanimous decision by politicians last week to put Jersey businesses first as the Island works to recover from the crisis and amid a growing movement to support the local economy, which includes the JEP’s Celebrate Local campaign.
And yesterday the latest unemployment figures suggested that there might be tentative signs of the Jersey economy stabilising, with a reduction in the number of people registered as actively seeking work.
Homes created by the Andium projects will be allocated through the Affordable Housing Gateway, with rents set in line with government rent policy.
The Jersey Construction Council hailed the announcement ‘timely and significant support that will benefit a broad cross-section of the local supply chain, from design teams through to contractors and suppliers of all sizes’.
JCC chairman Martin Holmes said: ‘Aside from the positive acceleration of their programme to deliver much-needed homes for our community, this sizeable package of infrastructure work will act as economic stimulus and will give confidence to our industry as we start to emerge from the current restrictions and continue our work to build a sustainable industry.’
Stephen Lilley, head of capital projects for Andium, said one of the major projects would involve the development of 130 new apartments on the site of The Limes in Green Street.
The other two projects are both larger, including almost 200 and nearly 300 units respectively, Mr Lilley said, although the sites were not being publicised yet.
‘We don’t want to alarm residents who think they will be relocated imminently,’ he said. ‘The timescale for these projects is across the next three to four years – what we want to do is help provide the industry with surety of forward work.
‘It is a sensitive matter where clients do have to move homes, but this is part of a constant drive to improve the quality of the estate.’
Tender documents for the projects were due to be made available from today after being agreed at a meeting of the Andium board last week. A condition of the tender process will be that 100% of the work goes to local companies.
Design packages for the eight other projects will also be offered to the construction industry. Mr Lilley said this covered smaller sites which were currently ‘under-utilised’, ranging from four to 33 units.
A number of projects are already in progress, including 21 new homes at Convent Court and a new headquarters for Age Concern Jersey, the refurbishment of the four tower blocks at Le Marais and 122 new homes on the Jersey Gas site.
Andium has used almost 90% of a £250 million government bond issued in 2014 and is now set to make use of a new £150 million private loan to finance the next phase of work.
Ian Gallichan, chief executive of Andium Homes, said: ‘We are in a unique position to offer support and make a meaningful contribution to the current situation, by accelerating several pipeline projects and offering these to the market.
‘This will fast-track the progression of these projects and ultimately take them to a “shovel-ready” status, where they can be released for construction when the market has capacity.’
Andium, which has approximately 4,500 homes in its estate currently, makes an annual financial return to the Treasury, which in 2019 was £29.7 million.
