A fresh assessment of the Victoria Marine Lake’s repair costs will be required following the recent listing of the lake wall, the Infrastructure Minister has said.
Constable Andy Jehan shared the update in a response to a written question from Deputy Inna Gardiner about whether a cost estimate for fully repairing the lake had been carried out.
The Infrastructure Minister said that an initial assessment was completed in 2024, with figures updated in 2025 to account for inflation. However, the precise costs are commercially sensitive and have not been disclosed.
Constable Jehan explained that the listing status of the 128-year-old lake will alter the overall cost of the repairs.
“The listing status changes both the nature and scope of the works, as heritage planning requirements mean that the sprayed concrete layer must be removed rather than overlaid,” he said. “This will result in a revised specification and therefore new costings.”
Express last month revealed that Jersey Heritage’s bid to list the Victorian structure was successful, with the Planning Department subsequently awarding the wall Grade 4 Listed status.
Landmarks awarded Grade 4 status are defined as “buildings and places of special public and heritage interest to the island”.
A Planning Department report seen by Express said the listing was granted in recognition of the pool’s “special interest” to Jersey.
It found that the Victoria Marine Lake compares with other listed sea-water bathing pools in the UK and locally, and “illustrates significant aspects of Jersey’s social and cultural history in its connection to the popularity of sea bathing in the 19th century”.
As the sea pool is now formally protected, any works or activities affecting the site will require permission from the Planning Department.
However, emergency works are due to take place at Victoria Marine Lake in the coming weeks to address immediate safety risks.
Jersey Property Holdings said the repairs would focus on “potential whirlpools and rip tides caused by tidal variations through the existing openings in the wall” at the West Park bathing pool.
Full repair works are planned to take place in stages from spring 2026 – depending on funding.