Building work on a purpose-built centre for victims of sexual assault and rape is set to begin in February – should additional funding for the project by approved as part of the Budget debate.
Home Affairs Minister Mary Le Hegarat confirmed in the States Assembly this morning that the Government will be asking for expressions of interest “in the next couple of weeks” from local contractors.
The development, intended to replace the current Dewberry House Sexual Assault Referral Centre in St Saviour, had been delayed after rising construction costs pushed the project over budget.
Responding to a question from Deputy Louise Doublet, Deputy Le Hegarat said that additional funding was now allocated within the Government’s 2026 funding proposal, allowing work to begin early next year should the Budget be approved.
The Minister said: “All planning and building control permissions are in place for the Sexual Assault Referral Centre. A procurement strategy and former tender documents have been prepared and are ready to issue.
“An expression of interest to local contractors will be issued in the next couple of weeks. Once the 2026 Government Plan is approved, we will be in a position to go out to tender allowing for the tender and approvals process to take place.
“It is anticipated that the works can start in February 2026.”
It had originally been hoped that the SARC would be built by May this year after the current Dewberry House, which was set up in 2017 following a recommendation made in the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry, was deemed no longer fit for purpose.
The new facility is set to be built at the former Heathfields Children’s Centre on the corner of Bagatelle Road and Bagatelle Lane in St Saviour. The new building would bring the SARC under the same roof as Jersey Domestic and Sexual Abuse Support, and Jersey Victims First so that survivors would only need to recount their experience once.
Deputy Le Hegarat said that the additional costs associated with the project had been “in relation to inflation increases” but that there would be “no changes in relation to the building”.