JERSEY’s government is to be asked to buy a development site in an “iconic and popular” Island bay and give it to the National Trust in a move designed to “help preserve public access”.
A proposition, lodged by Deputy Lyndon Farnham, will seek approval from the States for the purchase of the former Seaside Café at Grève De Lecq for £3.6 million.
The proposal also asks that, after the land has been bought, it is gifted to the National Trust for Jersey, subject to a condition that it is used to provide “environmental, cultural and social benefit to the public”.
The future of the site, including its car park, became a point of discussion after it was sold by the Lewis family in 2020 and later fenced off.
Last year, a successful proposition from Deputy Farnham requested that Treasury Minister Ian Gorst – in consultation with former Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet – negotiate on behalf of the States to purchase it “for a use that will be of benefit to the public”.
At the time, the site was on the market for £5m undeveloped or £11m with a four-bedroom house and 100-seat café built on it, a project for which planning permission has been granted.
However, Deputy Farnham said that, by December, the government had “failed to reach a mutually agreeable position” and so he had contacted the site’s owner.
He revealed that he had since managed to negotiate the “significantly reduced price” of £3.6m for the undeveloped site, with a written confirmation from the agent that the owner was prepared to accept that offer.
Deputy Farnham – who has previously spoken of the need to secure the “iconic and popular” bay for Islanders – said: “It represents good value for the public and for the protection of the bay, and it still realises – for the owner of the land – a reasonable profit on their investment.”
He added: “If we don’t act now, this has the potential to drag on and on. If the States agree to purchase the land, then the public can start benefiting as soon as possible, and we could expect to see much better public access in the bay for this coming summer.”
National Trust for Jersey chief executive Charles Alluto said: “We feel honoured to potentially be gifted the site and, should the States pass the proposition, it would be our intention to go out to public consultation regarding future uses for the site.”
He added: “We feel it is absolutely crucial that given the level of public investment, the public should have a say as to how they would like the site to develop in future, with options such as complete clearance to a refurbished café and interpretation centre.”
The proposition is due to be debated on 6 February.
