Policy Brief
Infrastructure
Priorities
The Chief Minister’s Ministerial letters , published on 10 August 2022, included a letter to the Minister for Infrastructure, the key part of which said –
You will lead key projects including the new government office scheme, the new Sewage Treatment Works, and a mental health facility. We also need to deliver improvements in the school estate, especially in town. This is a large programme of capital improvements, which we need to deliver in a timely fashion.
We are also of the same mind on the need to make better and more efficient use of the government's property portfolio. You will expedite the release of government-owned property as part of a response to the housing crisis, demonstrating that this government utilises its assets rather than leaving them vacant.
This Government is also committed to the Carbon Neutral Roadmap agreed by the last States Assembly. You will accelerate the implementation of the sustainable transport policy to ensure we meet our carbon neutral goals.
You will also work closely with the Minister for Housing and Communities, and the Minister for the Environment, to make any appropriate structural changes to enhance accountability and support cost-effective solutions for the Department of Infrastructure, Housing and Environment,
Critically, I would also like you to ensure that the existing Hospital Project is subjected to an immediate review to assess possibilities for delivering the hospital facilities in an appropriate, cost-effective way.
The chapter for the Minister for infrastructure in the Ministerial plans for 2024, published on 19 September 2023, set out priorities in seven areas –
1. Delivering Key Government projects:
- Continue to assess, progress and deliver the various elements of the New Healthcare Facilities programme, including an acute hospital at Overdale, ambulatory services at Kensington Place/Gloucester Street and a health village at the St Saviour’s Hospital site.
- Complete the new Government headquarters building by mid-2024.
- Continue the review into the replacement and enhancement of sport facilities, providing a plan for longer term delivery.
- Continue work to assess the most appropriate and cost-effective uses for Fort Regent (utilising as much existing information as possible) then commence plans for the necessary development work to be undertaken.
- Complete delivery of the new mental health facilities before the end of 2023, and develop plans for future mental health and other associated facilities, as directed by the Health and Community Services department.
2. Maintaining and improving Government property.
3. Providing waste services that continue to meet current needs, develop additional capacity for the future, encourage waste reduction and improve recycling, both domestic and commercial.
4. Protecting islanders from the adverse effects of climate change:
- Develop and commence delivery of the long-term Shoreline Management Plan to protect the Island’s coastal communities from the increasing risk of flooding due to climate change.
- Develop a comprehensive Flood Mitigation Plan aimed at minimising flooding and the impact of floods on communities and infrastructure.
- Work with the Constable of St Helier and other Government bodies to fast track the delivery of the public realm regeneration programme, to redefine the heart of St Helier and make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
5. Make our roads as safe as possible and reduce carbon emissions in a measured and affordable way.
6. Improving value for money in the delivery of public services.
7. Improving the performance of departments and services.
Transport policy
On 6 December 2023 the Government published Sustainable Transport Policy: Next Steps .
The press release accompanying the report stated that the document prioritises six areas -
- making the roads safer for all of us
- reallocating road space to prioritise cycling and walking
- raising the profile of public transport
- managing vehicle movement through parking measures
- supporting the Island’s economy
- enabling future transport mobility and legislative change.
Some of the key commitments include -
- The creation of a Strategic Road Safety Unit and the publication of a road safety strategy.
- Creating more accessible, safer, covered waiting areas for bus users.
- Identifying opportunities to bring low carbon vehicles into the bus fleet.
- Reviewing charges and charging time periods for parking in public car parks.
- Working with key stakeholders to support shared mobility transport solutions.
The report includes a map of high-level “Strategic Corridors”, where the Government recognises investment is needed to improve cycling facilities to support those who want to travel by bike instead of by private vehicle.
It also outlines an ambition to reduce the dominance of vehicles in the centre of St Helier, which may see commuter parking moved to areas nearer the edge of town.
A “next steps” delivery plan includes publishing in 2024 a road safety strategy, a cycling and walking infrastructure strategy and networking planning guidelines for bus travel.
The report includes ten decision making principles, originally published in 2020, for transport that will be “built into and applied in public decision-making in a range of ways” -
- Recognise that fewer motor vehicle journeys will be good for Jersey.
- Conform with the Jersey mobility hierarchy (which begins with children, elderly people and disabilities and ends with single occupancy cars).
- Improve transport options, including parking, for people with mobility impairments.
- Make walking and cycling routes more attractive, especially for school and commuting, by providing safer routes.
- Invest in a better bus system that more people want to use and that is accessible to all, [and present a Bus Service Development Plan to the States for debate during the spring session 2021].
- Recognise, and price fairly, the social and environmental costs of private vehicle use [and present a Parking Plan for debate during the Spring session 2021].
- Reduce the impact of vehicles on our landscape and create more space for people in St Helier.
- Create public service and planning systems that reduce the need to travel.
- Discourage the use of petrol and diesel vehicles and encourage the use of zero emission vehicles to reduce pollution.
- Work with businesses that rely on road transport to support their efficient and safe use of the road network, their delivery and servicing needs and their uptake of alternative low carbon fuels.