Former RBC building announced as new States HQ

Monday 30 July 2018

The former RBC building is to become the new government headquarters, it has been confirmed, after Express revealed it was a frontrunner.

States officials this morning announced plans to relocate more than 500 staff from across the States, who were previously housed in five different buildings, into a single office block to be rented for around £1million per year.

While officials described the move as a “short-term solution until a purpose-built office is developed” for all staff, the five-floor 19-21 Broad Street site will serve as the main building for the next five years. Only then can the lease be ended.

It comes as part of new Chief Executive Charlie Parker’s ‘One Government’ plans to get States employees working closer together. 

Pictured: Cyril Le Marquand will no longer be the States' main building from Autumn this year.

Staff from the departments of Education, Environment, Health and Chief Minister’s Department, as well as those in other corporate and administrative roles across the States, will migrate to their new home in Autumn.

But the new HQ won’t just be about better collaboration between departments – it will also play host to a new Ministerial “suite” and “Support Unit”. 

Plans are already being drawn up to decommission the remaining buildings, with South Hill and Cyril Le Marquand both in the firing line to be demolished and turned into key worker and other housing. The remaining properties may be sold.

Pictured: South Hill could be made into housing once staff have left the premises.

Assistant Chief Minister, Connétable Richard Buchanan, commented: “We are bringing States employees together from across all departments, to work as one government. The physical separation of teams in different buildings reinforces a silo working mentality, when what a modern public service needs is to promote a culture of collaboration and partnership among staff. 

“Moving corporate and administrative staff from outlying offices into a single headquarters will also release current sites for redevelopment for alternative uses, such as housing for key workers.

“This move will support the reorganisation of public services and help provide better and more responsive services to islanders, and to deliver Ministers’ priorities more effectively.”

Overall, the new HQ will include: 

• most staff from Cyril Le Marquand House,
• corporate and administrative Health staff from Peter Crill House,
• corporate and administrative Education staff from Highlands,
• Environment staff from South Hill,
• teams from Maritime House,
• policy and strategy staff from across all departments.

The news comes as it has been revealed that Gaspé House - RBC's new home - is on the cusp of being sold for £90million in what could be one of the Channel Islands' largest ever single asset property transactions.