'New college site in Jersey could be hopeless'

Jane Faulkner said refurbishing the current building would be better for the environment

An urban designer and architectural consultant said plans to build a new education college in St Helier would be "hopeless" and could cost more than refurbishing Highlands College.

Jane Faulkner, of Jane Faulkner Associates, said there were no suitable sites after the government's 25-year plan proposed moving Highlands College to boost the Jersey town's economy. The current St Saviour estate would then be freed up for housing.

Education Minister Deputy Rob Ward said a feasibility study would assess whether the new college would be on one site or spread over several locations.

Highlands principal Jo Terry-Marchant said any "evidenced-based argument" needed the feasibility study completed first.

'Complete disaster'

Ms Faulkner said redeveloping the current site would also cause less disruption to students.

She said: "You can do it gradually through phases and phase the spending."

She added that she believed the move would be "a complete disaster" from an environmental point of view.

"The Royal Institute of British Architects' recommendations state a new build causes more carbon emissions than refurbishing and renovating an existing building," Ms Faulkner said.

Jo Terry-Marchant said a new college site would be an investment in Jersey's future

Ms Terry-Marchant said earlier this year the current college estate was "outdated, inflexible and no longer fit for purpose in many areas".

She added that assessments had to "take account of the trends in further and higher education".

"The government will only support the most affordable route to a great return on investment," she said.

Ms Terry-Marchant added that Highlands was spending £3m on maintenance over two years which "isn't good use of taxpayers' money".

Responding to Ms Faulkner's comments, she said there was "no way an architect standing outside the one site – we have two – and 11 buildings, can present an evidenced-based argument" until "a feasibility study is completed".

The study would have to look at many factors, including: demographics, demand for skills, consultations with its more than 13 stakeholder groups, costs, funding and location analysis, she said.

Ms Terry-Marchant added: "Any assessment needs to take account of the trends in further and higher education.

"The government will only support the most affordable route to a great return on investment both socially and economically for the island."

Ameerah, Sophia and Raquel all study at Highlands College

Deputy Ward argued skilled people would be more likely to stay in Jersey if they were educated in the island but not all Highlands students agreed.

Sophia Alves and Ameerah Hughes, both 17, said they would probably want to leave Jersey after they finished their diploma courses in Film and TV as there were "more opportunities elsewhere".

But they both praised the course teachers who they said "really improved their skills" despite the problem of water leaking into rooms with media technology.

Ms Alves said: "It makes our projects take more time and we're late for deadlines."

But Raquel Tiago, 27, who is in the second year of a Childhood Studies degree, said she planned to remain in Jersey.

"Our tutors are very supportive," she said.

She said it made better financial sense to study further in the island.