Concerns over funding of Fort Regent redevelopment

A scrutiny panel raised concerns about how the redevelopment of Fort Regent would be funded

Questions have been raised over how a £110m redevelopment of a sporting facility will be funded.

As part of proposed budget for 2026-2029, the Government of Jersey said it borrow £43m to develop Fort Regent, with most of the funds used to repair the roof and remove asbestos.

It said the remaining £67m would be detailed in future budgets, but it could be sourced by the Jersey Capital Investment Fund, a programme requiring States approval.

Speaking after a presentation of the redevelopment, Environment and Infrastructure Scrutiny Panel chairwoman Hilary Jeune said politicians need more details on how the funding would be paid for.

Jeune said: "If everything we do on infrastructure goes into this fund then we have to ask how it will be paid for.

"Already we are seeing borrowing of £43m to make the fort structurally sound but there are no plans on how to pay that back."

The Fort Regent redevelopment project was designed by the Jersey Development company and early plans included a 2,500-seat theatre, a 12-lane bowling alley and a six-screen cinema, which would be relocated from the waterfront.

There would also be a play area, virtual golf, e-gaming zones and a facility for climbing and bouldering, as well as places to eat and drink.

Infrastructure Minister Constable Andy Jehan said: "The £43m allows us to crack on and get the facility up to speed because we have to make sure the right electric and mechanical engineering is in place."

The rest could be funded by the Jersey Capital Investment Fund, which the government has previously said would help ageing infrastructure on the island, the States heard.

'Good progress'

Jehan said the money for the redevelopment of Fort Regent was taken from the fund and would allow the government to build on "good progress".

"Hopefully the £67m will come from the investment fund, and that's the dialogue that's happening at the moment with colleagues from treasury on how we are going to fund this," he said.

"I think what's really important is we get the work under way because we've made good progress in last six months and we need to build on that momentum so we can open this facility by end of 2028."