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Politicians have backed a proposal to get Ministers to negotiate the purchase of the former Seaside Café and carpark site at Grève de Lecq for a use that will be of benefit to the public.
Members supported a proposal by Deputy Lyndon Farnham by 32 votes to 10.
The vote, which took place this afternoon, does not guarantee that the site – which is on the market for £5m undeveloped – will be bought by the public but it allows the process to begin.
Any transaction will have to be approved by the Assembly.
Deputy Farnham accepted an amendment to his proposal from fellow District One Deputy Lucy Stephenson, which called on the Government to come up with a mechanism or policy so it can be better prepared when properties and land which it might consider buying for the public come up for sale.
On Thursday, the National Trust - which had voiced its support for the proposal - said: "The trust is delighted to see that the proposition was successful and that the States Assembly has recognised the value of protecting strategic coastal sites both now and in the future for the benefit of our community.”
Back in 2014, the charity was able to buy the former Pontins holiday camp at Plémont for £7.15m, having received a grant of £3.5m from the States of Jersey, which was approved by the Assembly.
Although the vast majority of Members also supported Deputy Farnham this week, some expressed concern about the subjectivity of a line in the amended proposition, requiring the Government to "ensure that the negotiated price represents value for money".
Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet - who will lead negotiations with the site owner alongside Treasury Minister Ian Gorst - said: “At the end of the day, Deputy Gorst and I will strive to get the best deal we can for the public and then return to the Assembly with a figure. It will then be for the Assembly to determine if that is value for money,” he said.
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