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Developers will be contractually obliged to give 1% of the profit from building the new Government HQ to charity, and ensure that 98% of staff working on the major construction project are locally employed and paid at or above the Living Wage.
As part of the plan to demolish and replace Cyril Le Marquand House, the developer will also have to commit to public realm improvements around Parade Gardens and Union Street worth £385,000.
They will also have to provide public art by local artists, though the exact specifications are yet to be determined.
The ‘social value’ conditions were contained in contracts exchanged this week between Jersey Office Development Limited – for which Dandara is the main contractor – and the Government.
The conditions, which apply during the building phase of the project, also include:
The developer took possession of the site on 1 May and will now have to prepare a planning application for the building.
Under the arrangement with Government, the public will continue to own the land, with the developer funding the construction of the new building, which is expected to open in 2024.
Government workers will initially move into the building for three years – at the end of which time there’ll be an option for the Government to buy the building at a pre-agreed price, which has not been disclosed. If it chooses not to buy it, it will enter a 22-year lease.
Pictured: The old Cyril Le Marquand building, which will be demolished.
Officials say the new office will lead to savings of £7m per year, a reduction in the costs of maintaining older parts of the Government’s office estate.
“This construction of the new building will support the island’s economic recovery by creating employment opportunities within the local construction industry,” said Infrastructure Minister Deputy Kevin Lewis.
“We expect that the new development will stimulate the regeneration of areas around Parade Gardens and Union Street by increasing footfall and encouraging business and commercial activity nearby.
“As well as addressing issues of outdated and poor working environments for employees, the new building will benefit customers through the provision of many more services in one central place.”
Video: Senator Le Fondré visiting the old Cyril Le Marquand building.
Chief Minister Senator John Le Fondré added: “Streamlining the Government’s office property estate has been on the agenda for the past 15 years, so I’m very pleased that we are now able to take this important and necessary programme of work forward. Reducing our operational property costs and providing a modern working environment, where employees can work together more effectively, underpins the modernization of public services.
“Importantly, the positive impact of the development will help the Island’s economic recovery as we emerge from the covid-19 pandemic and free up sites for much-needed housing and other developments.”
A Government spokesperson declined to confirm the overall value of the contract when asked by Express.
"To comply with our obligations within the agreement with the developer, and reflecting that this is an ongoing Government contract, the Government will not publish details that are commercially-sensitive to either the developer or the Government," they commented.
"As this is a major project, the Government will include an update on any planned expenditure in each Government Plan. The 2020 Government Plan (approved by the States Assembly in December 2020) has an allowance for £5m in 2024 to cover project and rental costs during the first period of occupation. Any costs beyond 2024 will be included in future Government Plans."
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