After delays, speculation and political pressure, the deal at the heart of Jersey’s largest ever capital project has finally been signed.

The Government of Jersey confirmed this afternoon that the main works contract for the new acute hospital at Overdale has now been signed, ending months of uncertainty.

In a statement, the New Healthcare Facilities Programme team said that the procurement process had officially concluded and that construction giant Bouygues UK – previously named preferred provider – had been formally appointed as the project’s Main Works Delivery Partner.

“The contract, signed between the Government of Jersey and Bouygues UK, is within the financial envelope agreed by the States Assembly for Phase 1 of the New Healthcare Facilities Programme,” the programme said.

“We look forward to continuing our work with Bouygues UK to deliver this much-needed facility for Jersey. Ongoing assurance will continue to be completed over the coming weeks as required in the contract and further information will be issued in due course.”

The announcement comes after weeks of speculation about the future of the project and repeated questions over why the contract remained unsigned more than six months after Bouygues was named as the preferred bidder.

Health Minister Deputy Tom Binet had previously insisted he would only sign off the agreement when satisfied it represented a “fair, balanced and sustainable” deal that protected taxpayers’ interests.

It comes just a day after campaign group Friends of Our New Hospital criticised what it described as an “extraordinary political silence” around healthcare and the future of the hospital during the election campaign.

Construction preparation works have already been under way at the Overdale site, with the new acute hospital forming the centrepiece of the wider New Healthcare Facilities Programme

Follow Express for updates…

READ MORE…