Investment boost for Jersey's building trade

Martin Holmes said the investment could help the industry recover from the recession

A multi-million pound investment in Jersey's social housing could help the building trade out of recession, the construction industry has said.

The Jersey Construction Council said the money was a vote of confidence in the industry.

The council had predicted this year would be the worst of the downturn for builders in Jersey.

But chairman Martin Holmes said that could change now politicians had agreed to invest £27m in social housing.

He said: "It is a very welcome boost for our industry... obviously we are very pleased that the States have taken notice of the importance of the industry."

The money will be used on six projects to build new homes and refurbish existing homes including those at Le Squez and La Collette Tower.

Mr Holmes said the investment would provide much needed contracts for local firms and he believed it would go a long way towards helping the industry recover from the recession.

One in ten employees in Jersey work in the building trade.