New hospital: Ministers reject current site decision

Friday 25 January 2019

Jersey's new hospital now looks almost certain to be built at a new location after the Council of Ministers rejected the previous States decision to re-build around the the current site.

This morning, they have announced their support for a proposition due to be brought by Deputy Russell Labey calling for his colleagues to bring “clarity” to the long-running debate, and over-turn plans to build the new £466m facility almost exactly where it currently stands.

Although this means that the decision to rebuild on the current site is now almost certain to be thrown out, the agreed funding for the project will be retained.

This news comes after the Environment Minister Deputy John Young rejected a second planning application for the £466million development around the current site. 

Pictured: Environment Minister Deputy John Young announcing his rejection of the amended planning application to rebuild on the current hospital site.

In a statement announcing the decision, Chief Minister Senator John Le Fondré said: “Ministers have not yet agreed an alternative site for a new hospital. As has already been publicly identified, there will be a formal due diligence process which will be limited to a small number of sites.

“Given that a lot of work has already been done on such sites this should be a relatively short process. I also recognise the importance of engaging with hospital staff, the Parish of St. Helier, and other political representatives in the States Assembly.” 

Pictured: The Chief Minister issued a statement overturning the previous States decision to rebuild on the current Gloucester Street site.

The Ministers’ decision will likely pave the way for another States debate on the issue. 

Meanwhile, support is growing for the development of alternative sites for the Future Hospital project including the Overdale site, as Express exclusively revealed earlier this month. 

Doubts were cast over the Gloucester Street site after a board of politicians penned an explosive report which blew open the Future Hospital question when work had already been carried out on progressing the current site development.

Pictured: Support is growing for alternative sites such as Overdale after a report blew open the Future Hospital question again last year.

In his proposition, which the Council of Ministers have now supported, Deputy Labey writes: “If ever there was a time for clarity in political direction to the Department for Infrastructure and the Department for Health and Social Services, this is it.

“...for most people Gloucester Street is a compromise too far, and more time will be wasted by a stubborn failure to accept this as fact. The Assembly can end this now, take the political decision that only it can take, and ensure that energy is concentrated on a better site that will deliver a better new Hospital.”