High rents leading to empty shops, say workers

Workers and businesses at Les Quennevais Precint and Parade have complained about the number of empty shops

Some businesses in a shopping centre in Jersey have said many units remain empty as rents are too high.

Workers and businesses at Les Quennevais Precint and Parade also said it had taken "forever" for repairs and maintenance work to be completed.

Deputy Jonathan Renouf said: "It feels like this is a place in decline, there is a sense of things being lost rather than being gained."

Most of the retail units at the site are owned by UK-based company High Tide Investments Ltd and managed by Maillard and Co. The BBC has approached both companies for comment. The agents said: "We work hard in managing the repairs and maintenance including cleaning and other communal expenses."

Carina Faria said both the landlord and government had a responsibility to improve Les Quennevais Precinct

Hairdresser Carina Faria, who works at a salon at the shopping centre, said cheaper rents would breathe new life into the area.

"It could be thriving, but the rents are too high and things are falling apart and they've just been left to fall apart," she said.

Ms Faria added the blame for the state of some of the empty shops laid with both the landlord and the Government of Jersey.

Environment Minister Deputy Steve Luce said the government could not legislate on the issue.

"What we don't want to do is to be forcing people to do things," he said.

"We have policies which encourage shops to stay as shops, but what we can't do is move into private sector and have government come out with a big stick forcing owners of properties to do something that we wish."

Deirdre Bates said it had taken "forever" for damage in her shop caused by a leak from outside to be repaired

Her views were shared by Deirdre Bates, who runs a neighbouring clothes shop.

"We do our best to try to make the shops look as nice as possible, but it would be good to have more support from the landlord and the managing agent," she said.

"Because the rents are very high and the area isn't looked after, new businesses don't want to come here."

Ms Bates said when there was some damage in her shop caused by a leak from outside in 2023 it had taken "forever" to get it repaired.

"They said they would do it for me but its taking forever, it ruins the experience for customers," she said.

Since the BBC spoke to Ms Bates the leak has been fixed.

Damage to the ceiling in Ms Bates' shop

All the businesses the BBC spoke to in the parade and precinct expressed frustration with High Tide Investments Ltd.

The BBC approached both High Tide Investments Ltd and managing agents Maillard and Co about the criticism around high rents and the time taken to carry out repairs and maintenance work.

Chris Marsh, the group managing director of Maillard and Co, said "effectively the commercial tenants are responsible for internal repairs".

He added the commercial landlord and the owners of the flats above the shops were responsible for paying for the structural repairs and common area.

"At the end of the day if the tenants and owners want more work done, this is possible but they will end up paying for it," Mr Marsh said.

High Tide Investments Ltd has not responded to the BBC's request for comment.

Deputy Helen Miles said she felt the government could be doing more to help the area

Deputy Helen Miles said she felt the government could be doing more to help the area by prioritising the west of island planning framework.

She said: "The planning framework has a master plan for the Les Quennevais area, the environment minister does not think this is a priority. I absolutely disagree with him, I think this should be a priority.

"We need greater thought on how we can actually revitalise areas such as Les Quennevais to better serve the west of the island."

Luce said prioritising the west of island planning framework would make little difference.

"You can have a master plan that will show pictorially how good it will look, but ultimately it's up to the landowner who owns the vast majority of that area to make a decision themselves to come forward and develop plans with the department for the benefit of everybody," he said.