Local firm helps College Gardens grow

Friday 04 November 2016

A local firm will be helping to make the former Jersey College for Girls site at La Pouquelaye grow, having secured a £40million contract.

Jersey Development Company (JDC) have signed up Rok Regal to create 187 new homes at College Gardens.

Work has already started, and the development should be finished in phases between April 2018 and April 2019.

JDC Managing Director Lee Henry said: “The development secures the future of the site and provides much-needed affordable homes within the town area. We started selling units off-plan in August last year and the response has been phenomenal.

"Pre-sale agreements have been reached for more than 90 per cent of the available units which means JDC successfully exceeded its target to match construction value before site work commenced. We are particularly pleased that 40 units have been secured by the Jersey Housing Trust to provide social housing for over 55’s and 40 Shared Equity units are going to local first-time buyers.”

Robert Matthews, CEO of Rok Regal said: “We are obviously delighted to be involved with this prestigious project and landmark building which played an important part of Jersey Life for many decades. We will be employing a significant amount of local contractors to undertake the project which will benefit the Island’s economy, including a wide range of employment opportunities from site management to trade operatives and apprentices over the next 30 months.”

The development includes extensive private gardens, pétanque pitch, reading areas and a gym. Nightingale House, the imposing iconic JCG Victorian listed building was home to thousands of JCG pupils from 1888 until 1999.

The building will be renovated throughout and will include two, three and four bedroom units. Five brand new blocks will be built behind Nightingale House and each of the new residence blocks will be named after the former JCG House names: Austen-Bartlett, Cavell, Curie-Fry, Garrett-Anderson and Inglis.