Fears for Fort Regent plans without full political backing

Tuesday 08 December 2020

The redevelopment of Fort Regent will need full political support if it is going to go ahead in light of the covid pandemic, according to a new report.

In their latest review, the Economic and International Affairs Scrutiny Panel say they fear that there still remains “a high degree of uncertainty over the future of the project” despite the Government earmarking £1.8m for “pre-feasibility work” and a further £3 million for early phases of work.

This will be followed by £26m to complete the project, which could see the Napoleonic fortification have its own casino, winter gardens, cinema, adventure playground and housing. 

Ministers have already said that sport facilities are unlikely to feature in future plans. 

In last year’s Government Plan, covering 2020 - 2023, £2m was set aside to pay for work to define a future for the hilltop fort, but the Panel say they have no idea if the £4.8m in the latest plan includes this £2m or not. 

Video: The final parts of the Fort's swimming pool were recently removed from the skyline.

In its recently published report on the plan, the panel concludes: “The issue of Fort Regent has been an ongoing issue and has been the subject of much political discussion over many years. 

“A capital project provides further central planning reserves for additional pre-feasibility work (£1.8 million) and an amount of £3 million for the early phases of work. 

“To deliver the remaining phases, there is a need for additional funding, which has been identified in the Proposed Schemes with a further requirement of £26 million. This additional funding will require political support and there will need to be a certain level of political priority given to this project and its future.”

The panel concludes that the “overall ambition for Fort Regent” will need to be considered as part of a wider debate “that includes the agreement of the vision, the impact on sporting facilities and the overall funding mechanism for the agreed scheme” otherwise it could fall by the wayside against other priorities, such as the new hospital and balancing the books after the Covid pandemic.

Also in its report, the panel - chaired by Deputy Kirsten Morel, who will soon become an Assistant Economic Development Minister - says it will keep a close eye on the Government’s plans to maintain and update facilities for sport and the arts.

As part of the first phase of the Fort‘s redevelopment, a UK company was recently awarded a £28,000 contract to bring “animation and enlivenment” by creating various events and experiences.

It was recently announced that Fort Regent will become the Island’s main covid vaccination centre in the coming months.