“It’s a weight off my shoulders”

Friday 26 April 2019

The Government has sent its strongest signal yet that building the future hospital on its current site is off the table for good, telling nearby residents and business owners that the project has wrapped up and that they won’t be looking to buy their properties anymore.

The Stafford and Revere Hotel, as well as other properties on Kensington Place, had been at risk of compulsory purchase to make way for a £466million refurbishment and extension of the current hospital.

But in a series of letters sent out last week, the Government confirmed that the ‘Future Hospital’ project had officially “ceased” and that there was no longer an intention to acquire any of these properties.

It came following a decision in the States Assembly to rescind a decision to make the current Gloucester Street premises the preferred site earlier this year, following over a year of agonising wait for those in the area who had been warned they may have to move out with just a few months’ notice. 

Pictured: Owners of the Stafford and Revere Hotels had to wait a long time to find out whether their properties would be required for the Future Hospital.

Among the business owners contacted was hairdresser Debbie Harrington of Kensington Place’s 1-2-1 Hairdressing, who previously told Express of the “stress” the uncertainty had caused her personally, as well as the impact on her business.

 With the project over, and the team having disbanded, Minister for Infrastructure Minister Kevin Lewis wrote to her last Thursday, explaining: “The Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré, has announced that a site review process will start soon to consider which site should become the approved location for the new hospital.

“The decision to review sites means that the current Future Hospital project has ceased and the Government of Jersey is no longer actively seeking to acquire your leasehold interest or the freehold of the property you occupy.”

In the letter, which was also signed by Director General for Growth, Housing and Infrastructure, he extended his apologies for the excessive wait for a definitive decision: “As you are aware, it has taken some time to reach this position. This is mainly due to the planning process for such a major and important project; a review of the Future Hospital project by the Policy Development Board; and a subsequent political view.

“I understand this has been a difficult period, with much uncertainty over a number of years. I hope you will accept my sincere apologies for the delay in concluding it.”

Pictured: Minister for Infrastructure, Deputy Kevin Lewis, wrote to business owners and nearby residents to apologise for the delay in confirming the end of the 'Future Hospital' project as it stands.

Debbie told Express that she was relieved to receive the news, describing it was “a weight off my shoulders.”

While the letters also contained a caveat that “this does not mean that the Gloucester Street site is not able to be considered again”, in another strong signal that the site is no longer under serious consideration, the Government have now decided to delete their email database of all those living in the area.

They had previously been in contact in relation to consultations, traffic impact exercises and various neighbourhood forums about the proposed Future Hospital build.

In an email sent to nearby residents yesterday, Deputy Lewis said: “The purpose of holding your data was to contact you with updates about the Future Hospital project on the Gloucester Street site.  As this project has now ceased it is no longer appropriate for us to keep your data in accordance with data protection legislation. We will, therefore, be deleting all contact details we hold for you from the project records.”

While the news has been a cause for celebration for some, the Government of Jersey’s Annual Report and Accounts for 2018, which were released yesterday, confirmed a more negative picture: the write-off costs for the project total £27million.

Pictured: Debbie Harrington said she was relieved to be told the government would no longer be seeking to build on her hairdressing premises.

A question also remains about what will happen to the properties that the government did acquire.

‘The Maisonette’ was the first property to be acquired at 44 Kensington Place, which sits above Aromas restaurant – a property also on the purchase list.

Leadership of the current project remains unclear, with the Minister for Infrastructure confirming his department no longer hold responsibility for the project, as Express revealed earlier this week.

A Government spokesperson assured, however, that an announcement will be coming in the near future.

Pictured: Islanders have been promised an announcement about a "new approach" to the future hospital. which Express understands to be a PFI solution.

“The Chief Minister has been leading on the drive to agree a new way forward for the hospital project, since the rescindment of the decision to build on the Gloucester Street site. 

“Senator Le Fondré will be publishing a report before the end of the next States sitting, which has been developed after discussions with States Members and Ministers. This report will confirm political oversight of the project, and propose a new approach for delivering a hospital for Jersey,” they said.

Express understands that this “new approach” is a PFI-style project.