Hospitality industry representatives have criticised the latest delay to Fort Regent’s redevelopment, saying the vision presented to Islanders was “never matched by a budget that could deliver it”.
The Jersey Hospitality Association said it was “deeply disappointed, though sadly not surprised” after rising costs prompted a pause and a reassessment of the project.
Ministers are expected to consider the next stage around the middle of 2027, following work to establish essential repair costs, test private-sector interest and assess options for the site.
The association, which has supported a conference and events venue at the site, said the proposed Budget showed just £3.8m of the £26.1m approved for the Fort this year was now expected to be spent.
“None of this is good for our community, for public confidence, for business confidence or for inward investment,” it said.
The association also questioned the government’s spending priorities, contrasting proposed borrowing for the Fort with pressure on tourism marketing.
It said the Budget set aside £43m of borrowing for Fort Regent, including £15m in 2027, with debt costs met “through restraint in revenue spend”.
That commitment was being made for a project with “neither an updated cost nor a settled plan”, it argued, while £2m needed to prevent Visit Jersey’s marketing from falling by almost half next year had not been found.
The association said that squeeze coincided with Jet2 tripling its capacity to almost 155,000 seats. It reiterated its call for annual destination marketing funding of at least £10m, agreed over several years and assessed against results.
However, it welcomed Infrastructure Minister Jonathan Renouf’s openness and offered to help explore commercial interest in the Fort.
It urged ministers to give private investors confidence to proceed and “then get out of the way”.
Essential repairs remain funded in the proposed 2027 Budget. The government intends to issue tender information before the end of this year, while appointing a specialist to explore private investment or operation of all or part of the site.
