THE Infrastructure Minister has stressed that the recently announced £110m Fort Regent regeneration plans are “not dependent” on the redevelopment including a hotel – and that work on the project will not start until it can be funded.
Constable Andy Jehan also said he had been “very firm” with those working on the scheme that “whatever we put at Fort Regent is sustainable in the long-term”.
The latest vision for the historic site – produced alongside the States of Jersey Development Company – includes plans for a rooftop bar, six-screen cinema, indoor climbing wall, 2,500-seat acoustic theatre in Gloucester Hall, plus a hotel.
The government has said the cost of the redevelopment is estimated at £110m, excluding the new hotel – which it has stated would be privately-funded and located on the site of the former swimming pool.
But several politicians have raised questions over how the substantial price tag will be met.
In a recent sitting of the States Assembly, Deputy Jonathan Renouf described the funding proposals that accompanied the plans as “a little vague” and asked whether they were dependent on the hotel going ahead.
The Infrastructure Minister replied: “The plans are not dependent on a hotel being at Fort Regent.
“It is desirable to have a hotel to increase the revenue that we can achieve from that site, but it’s not essential.”
Mr Jehan continued: “We have got a nursery that will derive revenue, we plan to have cinemas that will derive revenue, and a number of other initiatives which will derive revenue.
“I’ve been very firm with the team that we have to ensure that whatever we put at Fort Regent is sustainable in the long-term, and therefore I’m taking a very close interest into what revenue is generated from that site.”
Deputy Renouf asked if a more “detailed” breakdown of the funding proposals could be published.
Mr Jehan added: “Certainly we’re not going to start any work at Fort Regent until we’re in a place that we can fund the development and we can fund the maintenance of the Fort.
“We’re currently out to public consultation, I’m delighted with the level of response we’ve had from Islanders right across the Island, right across the demographics.
“We will look at that feedback, and that will finally decide what we put into Fort Regent.”
