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Jersey's Health Minister has cited the "full support" of his colleagues in Government as he pushes ahead with plans for the construction of a new acute hospital at Overdale – with demolition work on the site now complete.
Deputy Tom Binet said that, subject to planning approval, the island could "finally look forward to a ‘spade in the ground’" on the long-awaited project next year.
Should this be the case, it would bring an end to a multi-million-pound saga spanning more than a decade across several projects overseen by multiple Governments.
A planning application for the proposed acute hospital, which will be the first major new building in the Government's New Healthcare Facilities Programme, was lodged earlier this year.
Demolition work, carried out by Jersey Demolition Contractors, began at the Overdale site in December 2023 – with more than 20 buildings and associated structures having since been removed.
Watch: Demolition work in anticipation of the proposed new acute hospital at Overdale has been completed.
This has included the crushing of around 12,000 cubic metres of rubble on site for reuse in the development of the acute facility, as well as 4,000 cubic metres of materials that have been recycled to prevent unnecessary landfill.
Deputy Binet said those involved with the demolition work had done a "brilliant job".
“I am very pleased that we have marked yet another important milestone for the programme with the completion of the demolition contract at Overdale," he added.
"Islanders have been long overdue modern healthcare facilities, and while the road to get to this stage has been long, we are now witnessing real, tangible progress."
Pictured: Deputy Binet said the demolition team had done a "brilliant job".
Deputy Binet continued: “In the weeks and months ahead, I am confident that States Members will make the right decision by approving the budget for phase one of the programme, and that the Planning Committee will grant the project the necessary approvals, especially given the approvals already in place for the previous scheme.
"With their support, we can finally look forward to a ‘spade in the ground’ on this long-awaited project next year."
Deputy Binet said he believed the scheme had the "full support" of the Council of Ministers.
He added: "I think that the [States] Assembly as a whole are happy with this and, from what I can gather, members of the public like what is on offer here too.
"So with a fair wind, we will get this through in January and we just keep the pace and keep moving."
Pictured: Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan said he hoped the project would receive planning permission "in the not-too-distant future".
Site works at Overdale, including clearance and other development works, are scheduled to continue in the coming months.
Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan said: "It's really good to see the progress that has been made – you can actually see the size of the site now."
He added: "There's some more work that will carry on in terms of preparation but, as you see it now, it's in a good state and there's a lot of recycling that's happened on site which is really good.
"So there will be a little bit of work, but we can't start any [building] work until we've got planning permission – hopefully that will be forthcoming in the not-too-distant future."
Subject to the approval of the recently-submitted planning application and the support of States Members in the upcoming Budget debate – which is when the funding for the first phase of the Programme will be determined – construction of the proposed acute facility is expected to start in 2025, with completion anticipated by the end of 2028.
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