The island’s largest freight and distribution company is the main tenant of the industrial area off Bulwer Avenue and says critical overseas staff recruitment is being hampered by the island’s housing issues.
It’s therefore seeking to convert parts of the ground floor into a shared kitchen and lounge area while retaining some of the office space, with six bedrooms, a shower room and toilet on the upper floor.
The building is still owned by the States but now largely empty. Discussions are ongoing to lease it to Ferryspeed after Driving and Vehicle Licensing services moved into Edward T Wheadon House in June 2022.
Only practical driving tests are still conducted there.
A States Property Unit spokesperson confirmed they had given the company its permission to submit the application.
“The States Property Unit have been in commercial discussion with Ferryspeed, who rent the adjoining warehousing from the States, to also potentially occupy the DVLA building. As part of those discussions, an application has been made by Ferryspeed to determine if a change of use of parts of the building to staff accommodation is possible,” they said.
The site falls within a key industrial zone, and the applicants say the change of use would not lead to a loss of industrial or storage capacity as the building has never been used for those purposes.
The building isn’t within the Outer Zone of the Major Hazards Public Safety Zone, also known as the blast zone.