If discussions are successful, it could mean a major facelift for the derelict and break-in-prone 1800s building previously known for 100 years as the ‘Jersey Lunatic Asylum’, which was rejected as a potential site for the future hospital.
JDC Managing Director Lee Henry added that the States-funded company were also “in dialogue” with the government over a possible regeneration of South Hill, where the Planning department is located.
The plans form just one part of an ambitious future development agenda laid out in the developer’s annual report, which includes building two more finance blocks, opening a new public square, and further development at the Waterfront.
Pictured: JDC are also looking to take on States asset South Hill. (Danrok/Wiki)
JDC aim to have completed and fully let four International Finance Centre buildings in total within half a decade, the report said. “JDC remains confident that based on the lease profiles of potential tenants and the number of enquiries that it has received, that there will be sufficient demand to fill the first four office buildings in the IFC within a five-year timeframe.”
The first two buildings are not yet ready to be sold, but the report claimed that, when they are, the profits will be retained by the JDC rather than passed on as dividend to the States in order to fund a 520-space underground public car park.
In the nearer future, however, a new public square named ‘Trenton Square’ is billed to open in August 2018 as part of the finance development. JDC said that the square, which will be completed around the same time as the second IFC building, should be of a similar size to Liberation Square.
Pictured: The first of the IFC buildings.
“The IFC forms a new extension to the existing central business district and will establish a clear identity for the island’s premier industry and strengthen the connection between the historic town centre and the Waterfront. The development will deliver high quality community areas and will include a new public square and public park, as well as delivering a re-landscaped Esplanade with wider pavements,” the report explained.
It also suggested that more development at the Waterfront could be on the agenda, stating: “It is envisaged that these areas (extending from the north of the Radisson Hotel to Les Jardins de la Mer) will deliver further residential accommodation as well as hospitality uses (hotel, self-catering and ground floor food and beverage and retail).”
The report also extolled the College Gardens development – a project to turn the former Jersey College for Girls site into residential accommodation – for having sold all units in advance of completion, with a predicted profit of £5million to be paid out as a dividend to the States of Jersey.
Pictured: The College Gardens development transformed the former Jersey College for Girls premises (above) into accommodation.
JDC also spoke highly of their latest project, luxury Waterfront apartment development Horizon. They said that around a third of properties within the first of Horizon’s two blocks – together totalling 280 marine-front apartments – had been pre-sold so far.
It will be built in partnership with Group Legendre, after JDC sold 50% of their stake in the development to the French company for £6.25million.
