They first opened in 1970, were scrapped in 1988, and their rusting station finally demolished in 2018. Now, in a throwback many islanders thought would never happen, cable cars could be returning to Fort Regent as part of a £110 million vision to (re)transform the iconic fortress into a modern leisure and cultural hub.
It’s the latest in a long line of bold proposals to revamp the site – a project that has eluded successive governments for more than two decades.
But Ministers are now hoping that this latest masterplan produced alongside the States of Jersey Development Company (JDC), which includes a rooftop bar, six-screen cinema, indoor climbing wall, 2,500-seat acoustic theatre in Gloucester Hall, plus a privately-funded hotel, will be the one to stick.
It’s slated for completion by the end of 2028 – just shy of 60 years since Fort Regent first opened as a public leisure centre – but the project will firstly have to get public and planning approval. The first of those two steps begins today.
Express took a closer look at the plans…
Firstly… Are they serious about bringing cable cars back?
The idea of reintroducing cable cars to the Fort has cropped up many times over the years – most recently under the ‘Future Fort’ plans put forward by John Le Fondré’s government (of which current Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham was a part) in 2021, then abruptly scrapped by Kristina Moore’s two years later.
Over the nearly two decades that they ran, providing a direct route to the Fort from Snow Hill, cable cars were a big hit with islanders and visitors alike.
While the final car ran in 1988, the infrastructure that once hosted them was not removed for another 20 years, becoming the target of break-ins and vandalism while officials flip-flopped over the idea of bringing them back.
As little as four years before the steel frame building was processed into 110 tonnes of scrap metal in summer 2018, government officials had been speaking with Poma – a French company specialising in cable-driven lift systems.
However, the company concluded that while it was technically feasible to bring back the cars, the capital and running costs would be too high.
So, what’s changed? Under the new cable car concept, JDC instead envisage a connection with “town/the Waterfront, offering visitors breathtaking views over St Helier and St Aubin’s Bay”.
Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan said the cable car was included in the £110m project cost – but that running it would have to be “sustainable”.
To help work out whether that could be the case, islanders are being asked whether they would be up for paying up to £5 per trip, and how often they might use the cable cars.
Previous consultations about the Fort have suggested the idea could be popular – of a previous survey of 2,500 islanders, it was deemed the preferred option for transport up to the new Fort.
However, a focus group run at the time said they did not like the idea of it running from the Waterfront, as this was perceived as being too far away from the town centre and not as helpful for access.
What’s planned for the Fort itself?
Under the plans, The Rotunda would be converted into a multi-functional entertainment complex over two floors – including a 12-lane ten-pin bowling facility, a gaming arcade.
It would also include a six-screen cinema, intended to replace the current Waterfront complex.
The Piazza and adjacent perimeter Garrison Rooms would become an arts and culture hub – with spaces for performing arts, music and artist studios, exhibitions, events and live performances, and a seasonal ice rink.
GALLERY: “Illustrative” concept images of some of the potential indoor and outdoor features – click each image to enlarge. (JDC/Government of Jersey)
The former Active Gym space would be repurposed as an activity facility featuring a ‘Ninja Warrior’-style active play zone, a sky trail, and climbing and bouldering activities.
According to the plans, some of the other indoor areas would become e-gaming zones, virtual golf areas, cafés and a bar.
…and on the outside?
New outdoor facilities would include a skatepark, a pump track for BMXers and mountain bikers, a play and heritage trail, a 500m running track, and a “teenage zone” with a dedicated social space for older children.
GALLERY: “Illustrative” concept images of some of the potential outdoor features – click each image to enlarge. (JDC/Government of Jersey)
JDC and Government say they also want to improve access to the site, with an extension of the lifts serving Pier Road car park to provide a direct link to the Fort, in addition to the potential reintroduction of a cable car.
A hotel on the site of the former swimming pool has also been proposed, although this would be privately financed.
Hang on, I’m getting déjà-vu…
If some of this sounds familiar, it’s because it probably is.
Many of the proposals for the new project overlap with John Le Fondré’s government’s Future Fort vision – and those proposals in turn borrowed heavily from scores of other previous resurrection attempts.
In fact, when Express delved into every report produced over the past 25 years as part of a mini-investigation into the originality of the Future Fort plans, it found that all bar one idea had been raised before. The only potential use proposed by Le Fondré’s government that had not been officially proposed before was a cinema.
Pictured: A ‘Heritage Trail’ and nature walkways around the Fort featured in both previous and current plans – at the top is a Future Fort concept illustration from 2021, and below is a mention of a Heritage trail from a document dating back to 2002.
This time round, the freshest additions are the sportiest – the pump track, skatepark and running track.
In the previous public consultation over the Future Fort plans, the ideas that generated the highest approval ratings were the outdoor gardens and ‘walkway in the sky’, closely followed by what was then described as ‘The Venue’ (a flexible space capable of hosting between 500 and 2,500 people), and the ‘Leisure Box’ (featuring a cinema and bowling alley).
The concept of a hotel drew the lowest levels of ‘excitement’ of all the concepts proposed, in addition to a casino – which does not feature in the current plans.
One of the proposed access routes – a lift directly to the Fort – might also look familiar.
The previous government had hoped to build a lift at Snow Hill directly to the Fort – though the design came under some criticism from some who thought it might undermine the history of the Napoleonic fortress.
While the concept design is very similar, the current plans’ version is instead based at Pier Road, which would be widened to accommodate a cycle path.
What happens next?
Subject to endorsement and the approval of the States Assembly, the first of three planning applications is set to be lodged in August of this year, followed two months later by further elements of the enabling works.
Once the Fort is cleared and closed by the end of this year, a final application covering the details of the scheme is due to be submitted next February, with construction potentially starting in April 2026.
Completion is scheduled for December 2028, which is also the “target reopening date”.
Ministers said that financing for the project will come from Fort Regent revenue, borrowing, allocations from annual capital budgets, and other budget surpluses – although details of this remain under development.
Funding proposals will be presented to the States Assembly once the design and costs have been finalised.
A “turning point”?
Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham said that this “long-overdue redevelopment” would deliver “modern, high-quality leisure and recreational facilities with a particular focus on children and young adults”.
“I look forward to hearing islanders’ views during the consultation process and to seeing Fort Regent fully revitalised as a vibrant social hub at the heart of island life,” he said.
Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan added: “Our aim is for Fort Regent to once again be the island’s premier family leisure and entertainment venue with a wide range of activities, including sport.
“This consultation marks a turning point, where we can bring Fort Regent back into proper use and make it the vibrant community asset we all know it can be.”
JDC CEO Lee Henry said his team were “honoured to have been entrusted” with the Fort project, stating that they had tried to ensure “that the proposals respect the heritage and focus on delivering much needed all-weather amenities for children, young adults and families”.
“…We hope to hear from as many islanders as possible in order to inform the plans and we look forward to receiving the community’s views,” he added.
More to follow…
HAVE YOUR SAY…
Details of the full proposals for Fort Regent can be viewed online, and the independent public survey can be filled out online. It is open from Wednesday 2 April to Sunday 18 May.
A public presentation will be held on 22 April at the Pomme d’Or Hotel from 17:30 where islanders can ask questions and provide feedback. You can register your attendance via Eventbrite.
The results of the consultation will be published in June.
