ITV News Exclusive: Jersey's new government HQ to cost around £90 million

Jersey's new government headquarters is set to cost around £90 million, ITV News can reveal.

The project, announced earlier this week, will see developers Dandara demolish the old public sector HQ at Cyril Le Marquand House and build a new one there.

Two other bidders, Le Masurier and the government-owned Jersey Development Company, also tendered for the work. The latter proposing to use a third building at the Finance Centre which already has planning permission for a headquarters.

But while the Dandara contract is still being finalised, it is already attracting political protest, with attempts to block the deal being worked up.

The government vacated Cyril Le Marquand House in 2019 and rented offices on Broad Street in St Helier at a cost of £1 million per year while the search for a new permanent HQ was underway.

In a statement to ITV News, signed off by the Chief Minister, the government confirmed it would retain ownership of the land where the new headquarters is set to be built:

"The land on which Cyril Le Marquand was built is owned by the States of Jersey, and will always remain in the ownership of the States of Jersey. The developer will fund the construction of the building. On completion, the Government will occupy and rent the building for an initial (maximum) three year option period, during which time the Government may choose to buy the building. If the Government does not choose to buy the building during this option period, the Government will then rent the building from the developer."