Hospitality industry representatives have welcomed a 25-year project to invest in Jersey’s capital infrastructure as a “turning point” to enable private sector growth.
Jersey Hospitality Association praised the ‘Investing in Jersey: 2026–2050’ plan, which was published today, for setting out “the groundwork of economic resilience and the platform needed for visitor economy growth”.
The multi-million pound strategy includes plans for a new Highlands College campus, major upgrades to sporting facilities to support a bid to host the Island Games, and thousands of new homes.
If approved, the programme will be underpinned by a new Capital Investment Fund designed to ringfence funding for these projects to reduce the risk of delays while also supporting more consistent delivery across political terms and allowing for better long-term planning.
The fund will be included in this year’s Budget, which is due to be debated by the States Assembly in November.
The construction of a new campus for further and higher education in central St Helier by 2032 is among the key ambitions, freeing up the Highlands site as one of the locations for affordable family housing, to be delivered at a rate of 400 homes per year over the next decade.
Priorities for the island’s infrastructure include improvements to roads, a new headquarters for the Fire and Ambulance Services and the construction of new walking and cycle routes.
Jersey’s sporting facilities – including Fort Regent, FB Fields and Le Rocquier – are also set to receive significant investment, ahead of a planned bid to host the Island Games in 2035.
The investment programme will be underpinned by a new Capital Investment Fund designed to ringfence the required funding, reducing the risk of delay and short-term decision-making, and supporting more consistent delivery across political terms.
The plans have been welcomed by the Jersey Hospitality Association.
In a statement, the industry representative body said: ” This is a long-overdue step in recognising that sustainable economic growth, particularly in the visitor economy, cannot happen without Government first delivering the essential infrastructure that enables it.
“We have been calling for an urgent need for diverse economic growth, and this is an encouraging response from Government, not overly visionary, but focused on what is critically needed from our public sector.”
While we strongly support this document’s content and its direction, the success of this vision will depend entirely on competent, accountable leadership
Jersey hospitality association
Co-CEOS Ana and Marcus Calvani added: “This plan is not about Government building hotels, it’s about Government finally building confidence.
“If Jersey wants a thriving visitor economy, it must first deliver the infrastructure that enables private sector investment.”
The Association said that the lines between public and private responsibility have been “blurred” for several decades.
“That confusion has led to a failure of delivery by Government and a corresponding collapse in private sector confidence,” it said.
“The result? Deteriorating public assets, missed investment opportunities and stagnating economic diversification, with quality of life for islanders suffering as an overall consequence.”
The JHA praised the targeted investment planned for affordable family housing, downsizing solutions, the new education campus, revitalised community spaces and upgraded sports infrastructure, and an overhaul of Jersey’s aging drainage, water and road networks.
However, the Association raised concerns that “words on a page are not delivery”.
The statement continued: “While we strongly support this document’s content and its direction, the success of this vision will depend entirely on competent, accountable leadership.
“As we approach the 2026 elections, islanders must vote for those who understand the scale and urgency of the economic challenge we face, and who are ready to hold the public sector to account for delivery.”
