Government shares construction plans with industry

Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan said the government's building plans for the next 12 years with the island's building industry

Ministers have told the construction industry how they intend to manage the government's building projects for the next 12 years.

"By sharing this information with the industry hopefully we can help ensure there are enough engineers, designers and people to build the buildings in place," said Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan said.

He said the Island Structural Engineering programme included arms-length organisations like Ports of Jersey and the States of Jersey Development Company, but "doesn't include facilities management of low value and the private sector currently".

Constable Jehan said he hoped this would change as the plan moved forward.

'Peaks and troughs'

He said: "The idea is to help businesses prepare and be resourced up to deliver the programme.

"What we don't want is for too much work starting at the same time and people not being able to cope with it and then having a trough."

Jehan added: "This programme is designed to identify these peaks and troughs and hopefully it will allow more money to stay in the local construction industry rather than go off the island."

He said: "We are also looking at sustainable ways of construction so the way we build may change in the future."

A live document is to be used to share information "openly" to allow people to prepare for the changes.

Jehan said: "It is very difficult in the construction industry, along with other industries with the rising costs.

"We want to make sure we have got that information shared with them and we are going to encourage private sectors to do the same."