Cost of conversion of coastal forts and similar properties into holiday lets

1240/5(2946)

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BY DEPUTY G.C.L. BAUDAINS OF ST. CLEMENT

ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 4th JULY 2006

Question

Further to oral questions on 20th June 2006, in relation to coastal forts and similar type holiday lets, would the Minister inform members –

( a ) of the confirmed total spend so far on all conversion work involved? ( b ) of the future anticipated spend, if any?

( c ) of the number of properties currently converted for holiday letting and the number planned to be so

converted?

( d ) of the costs divided between essential repair and modernisation/fitting out required for habitation for

both currently completed units and those planned to be let?

( e ) of the percentage of those properties on mains drains?

(f )  of the percentage of those properties that have mains water supply and, for those without, what

provisions are made and what type of waste disposal is provided for sewage/household?

( g ) of the provision made for solid waste collection from offshore forts, if any? and,

( h ) of the anticipated ongoing annual maintenance costs ,if any, differentiated between fabric maintenance

and that required as a result of letting?

Answer

As mentioned in the answer to Deputy J.A. Martin of St. Helier on 20th June 2006, the Tourism Development Fund has awarded two grants to the Coastal Forts and Fortifications Project. The first, for which funds have been transferred, was for £250,000, the second was for £340,000 making a total of £590,000. Detailed business plans were presented to the Tourism Development Fund Sub-Committee for both grants and the Sub-Committee was satisfied that the project met the criteria of the Scheme. Both Grants were subsequently agreed by the Economic Development Committee and the total grant was agreed by the Minister for Treasury and Resources.

The initiative is a joint project between Economic Development, Transport and Technical Services, Planning and Environment and the Jersey Heritage Trust. The Jersey Heritage Trust is the project manager.

I would be happy to arrange for the Deputy , and indeed any member, to visit the sites and be given a detailed overview of the project.

1. Asat 31st May 2006, a little over a third of the project budgethadactually been spent. Of the £298,000 which had been spent £206,000 was on building fabric, £41,000on furnishing and £51,000onfees.Thework to date has been focused on BargeAground and Fort Leicester, although somemodest sums havebeen incurred in respect of otherfortsand towers within the programme.
2. The expected cost tocompletion is £500,000(£798,000-£298,000).
3. At present two properties have been finished, namelyFort Leicester and Barge Aground.The Radio   Tower, Corbière will be the next to beopened.Ofthecurrentschemenine properties shouldbe   a v ailable for

self catering.

4. The split between essential repair and 'modernisation' is very difficult toanswer. Essentially properties that have not been usedforaccommodation for manyyears are being converted for self catering. For a smaller sum ofmoney they couldhavebeen stabilised as ruins, or roofed to protect them but left empty. This project looked atopening them up asself catering accommodation.
5. Barge Agroundisnowon mains drains, but unsurprisingly no others are yet. It is intended that Radio Tower will be on mains drains, as will Lewis Tower, St. Ouen, La Tour Carrée (eventually), Red Tower, Archirondel, andL'Etacquerel.Seymourwillnotbeon drains (as existing) and La Crête Fort and Fort Leicester will have tight tanks(both as existing).
6. Mains water is nowat Barge Aground and Radio Tower.There is a bore hole atFortLeicester(as existing), rainwater tank atLaCrête Fort and L'Etacquerel (as existing). Mainswater will be run to RedTower, Archirondel, LaTourCarréeand Lewis Tower in duecourse.
7. All solid waste from offshore forts is to be brought back onshore.
8. M aintenance as a result of letting, namelyday-to-daycareand cleaning, will be coveredby the lettings management budget. It needstobe assessed howmuchof the TransportandTechnicalServices'budget will be allocated to forts and towers in the future and how muchrevenue from the forts andtowers lettings scheme will be allocated to repair andhowmuchto bringing further buildings into the scheme,if any. This needs discussion about future arrangements between Jersey Heritage Trust, Property Holdings,Transportand Technical Servicesand Jersey Tourism.