Three teenagers arrested over "suspicious" blaze at Planning offices

Thursday 04 January 2024

Three teenagers have been arrested following a blaze at the former Planning offices, which police say they are treating as "suspicious".

The fire broke out at the South Hill building at 14:08 yesterday (Wednesday 4 January).

At the height of the blaze, there were 25 firefighting personnel on site, with four fire engines, one Incident Command Vehicle and the Fire Duty Manager Vehicle.

Although the fire was extinguished a short time later, nearby roads were closed until around midnight.

Fire and Rescue officers remained on the scene dampening down the area.

The three arrests – of a 13-year-old girl and two boys aged 14 – were made under the Fire Service Law, which deals with "any person who maliciously sets fire to any material, being the property of another", according to a States police spokesperson.

Video: Four fire engines were sent to tackle the fire.

Some paper set alight in the nearby Pier Road toilets has also been linked to the incident, the spokesperson added.

They said that there were no injuries reported and that the building was derelict.

The long-empty offices which overlook the Harbour have been earmarked for demolition by the Jersey Development Company.

The public-owned developer wants to knock down the site, and replace it with 139 units spread over three stepped buildings in the former quarry.

However, its proposals have been twice rejected by the Planning Committee – in May last year, and again in March 2023.

In October, the taxpayer-owned organisation appealed against the second refusal to an independent inspector, who will recommend to the Environment Minister if the scheme – which is lower and smaller than JDC’s first incarnation – should be approved or not. More than half-a-million pounds has been spent on the project to date.

Follow Express for updates...