The new plans to store the Island’s valuable records have been submitted by Jersey Property Holdings on behalf of the Department for Economic Development, Tourism, Sport and Culture (EDTSC).
EDTSC Assistant Minister with responsibility for culture, Deputy Murray Norton, said: “This is crucial and timely investment in Jersey Archive, where the existing storage capacity is forecast to be exhausted by mid-2019.
“Records management is a statutory responsibility for good reason – these documents will provide material for future historians to interpret how we lived, loved and died, and the important legal and financial decisions our society made in the course of that journey.”
Archives and Collections Director Linda Romeril said: “Archives are a unique irreplaceable record, telling the stories of the people, places and development of Jersey. The Jersey Archive currently holds over 600 years of recorded history and this extension will allow us to continue to collect the official, community and personal records of the Island for many years to come.”
Work is expected to start on the two-year project next year that will require specialist construction techniques and a six to nine month drying-out period to make sure the new building is completely moisture-free and suitable for storing the Island’s records.
Infrastructure Minister Eddie Noel said: “I am pleased to see these plans developed, and for the department to work with Jersey Heritage and Jersey Archive to move forward on a project that will provide another opportunity for local building contractors and suppliers.”