"We do not need more flats, we need more homes": Youth Parliament objects to Waterfront plans

Tuesday 14 February 2023

The Jersey Youth Parliament took to social media to outline their concerns about the Waterfront development leaving young islanders without adequate facilities, as well as criticising the plans for not including enough family-sized accommodation.

The recently revised plans for the regeneration of Jersey's Waterfront - submitted for planning consideration by the Jersey Development Company - include around 1000 new homes, as well as shops, leisure facilities, and 17,000 sq m of office space.

In a public comment on the planning application, Jersey Youth Parliament members from the ‘Right to Play’ campaign group criticised the possibility that islanders could be left for a substantial amount of time without attractions popular amongst young people, such as a swimming pool and cinema.

They argued that the plans leave children with “barely any place to play or relax” by “taking away major areas where youth hang out”.

Pictured: The Jersey Youth Parliament argued that the plans leave children with “barely any place to play or relax” by “taking away major areas where youth hang out”.

Pleading with the Government to “put children first”, the JYP said: “The lack of activities will stop children from being active and social.”

The JYP members also added that the flats due to be built as part of the development are primarily one- and two-bedroom properties, and therefore “not suitable for families”.

“We do not need more flats,” they stated. “We need more homes for families.”

In their public comment, the JYP representatives said that the proposed plans breach four of the articles in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

They believe that the current plans breach the right to play and leisure (Article 31), the right to meet with friends and join groups (Article 15), the right to have a voice and be listened to (Article 12), and the right to proper housing (Article 27). 

Pictured: An illustrative view of the proposed art-house cinema.

The JYP members are not unique in their worries regarding the future of the Waterfront's leisure activities.

One islander's public comment on the planning application read: "Having a public pool in St Helier is vital for the health and wellbeing of both young people and adults alike.

"Removing access to the pool facilities, even for a short space of time, will have huge negative impacts on the physical and mental health of so many people and will be felt by future generations." 

Another voiced a similar opinion: "This is Jersey's only cinema. There's already a lack of entertainment venues on the island. People need a cinema to go to with friends and family.

"The Aquasplash is one of the best swimming facilities on the island. Lots of families go there as it is a great place to take kids....please don't let it be ruined with more flats." 

One comment was particularly concerned with the time scale: "The proposed demolition of the Aquasplash, Cineworld, Fitness First and other business in the area will provide opportunities for the future; there's no doubt...However, short term there will not be a public swimming pool in St Helier for potentially over six years!" 

However, the Jersey Development Company has provided some public reassurance.

Hi Robert, there is no intention of replacing the Waterfront cinema until a new location for a multiplex cinema is found. The arthouse cinema is an addition to the island's art & culture offerings, as requested by islanders who contributed to the SWSH public consultation process.

— Jersey Develop Co (@JerseyDevCo) February 13, 2023

Recently on Twitter, they announced that "there is no intention of replacing the Waterfront cinema until a new location for a multiplex cinema is found." 

They also reiterated that the proposed "arthouse cinema" will be "an addition to the island's art and culture offerings, as requested by islanders." 

Finally, they stated that "the plans also include a new indoor leisure pool and a lido" to replace the Aquasplash.

In response to a written question by Deputy Kovacs on the future of the Aquasplash facility, the Minister for Infrastructure revealed that a contract between Serco - the operators of the Aquasplash - and the Government of Jersey is still being negotiated for post-July 2023.