THE ‘lead partner’ named last month to plan and manage the regeneration of the empty Les Creux Pavilion in St Brelade is no longer the lead partner.
This was because the not-for-profit organisation Jersey Community Land Trust had discovered planning “constraints” on the now-empty former bowls club headquarters which had caused a “challenge” to its vision for the site.
In the States Assembly this week, Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan said that after the conclusions of ‘amicable’ discussion with the JCLT, the government – who own the pavilion and bowling green – was not going ahead with the JCLT plan.
Last month, he had told States Members that the organisation had been selected as ‘lead partner’ – to which the trust said it was “delighted” to have been appointed.
However, this week in the Assembly, Mr Jehan said: “I am pleased to confirm that discussions are progressing with various parties towards the agreement of a lease for the future use of Les Creux.
“These are now at a sensitive and confidential stage, and I expect that we will be in a position to provide a further public announcement in the next two weeks.”
In response to the announcement, the JCLT thanked the minister and his officers for the “integrity” of the process it had gone through.
It said: “Following [yesterday’s] announcement from the Infrastructure Minister regarding the outcome of the opportunity, the JCLT wishes to express our sincere thanks to everyone involved in what has been a thoughtful and collaborative process.
“The JCLT were honoured to have been selected as the lead bidder for the opportunity. The park, and the pavilion at its heart, holds extraordinary potential as a vibrant hub for community, sport, recreation, education, nature, and wellbeing.
“The JCLT’s vision for the pavilion was to establish ‘a sustainable Pavillion facility, established by a democratic and transparent organisation, that complements the wider park and provides added value to the Island.’
“This vision was principled on long-term stewardship, local empowerment, and shared ownership. These are the values that define the work of the JCLT.”
It added: “After being named as the preferred bidder, the JCLT were asked to make changes to our original proposal and engage with new stakeholders from a list of previously unsuccessful bids.
“The JCLT embraced this opportunity, working to develop an even broader and more inclusive platform. Naturally, this required careful coordination and took time to do properly.
“In parallel, the JCLT engaged with the Planning Department, an engagement that identified constraints on the existing and future use of the pavilion within the park: these are challenges that will continue to affect any operator or tenant of the pavilion under the current planning use class.
The JCLT continued: “The JCLT respect the outcome and remain grateful for the integrity with which the opportunity has been carried out with.
“This experience has also highlighted the complexity of delivering public projects in Jersey on unique sites such as Les Creux, Fort Regent, and La Folie and others.
“The JCLT’s view is that the widely used community land trust model can offer a new way to meet the challenges that these places offer, through a transparent, democratic development of the planning brief and use that centres local voices and surrounds them with long-term benefit.
“This has been demonstrated through our ongoing interest at La Folie, where for the past 18 months we have been developing a people-led alternative vision for the site.
“The JCLT remains committed to supporting our public bodies and parish organisations that wish to deepen community participation in regeneration.”
JCLT was established by local architect Josh Noad and community project specialist Xanthe Hamilton
