INDEPENDENT valuations for a former café at Grève de Lecq have been given to the Infrastructure Minister, who is continuing to negotiate a possible purchase on behalf of the public.
Deputy Tom Binet has also had initial conversations with the owner’s agent and is holding discussions with the site’s owner.
Treasury Minister Ian Gorst provided the update on the site in a recent written question posed by Deputy Lyndon Farnham, who had successfully persuaded the States in July to back a proposal to request ministers to attempt to strike a deal.
The fate of the now-empty and fenced-off beachside plot has been up in the air since the once bustling café was closed and sold in 2020.
In January last year the new owners obtained planning permission to redevelop the site which would see the existing building demolished and replaced with a four-bedroom home and 100-seat eatery.
The large car park, which used to provide free spaces for the public, remains shut, which has made finding a parking spot on sunny days a challenge this summer.
Deputy Farnham’s accepted proposal does not guarantee that the site – which is on the market for £5m undeveloped or £11m with everything built – would be bought by the public, but it allowed the process to begin.
Any transaction would have to be approved by the Assembly.
Deputy Binet, who will lead negotiations with the site owner alongside Deputy Gorst, said in July: “At the end of the day, Deputy Gorst and I will strive to get the best deal we can for the public and then return to the Assembly with a figure.
“It will then be for the Assembly to determine if that is value for money.”
The independent valuations have been obtained by Jersey Property Holdings.
