£500,000 Proposed for St Helier Regeneration if States Back Deputy’s Amendment
- markdarrenwilkinso
- 21 hours ago
- 2 min read
The government could be required to provide £500,000 to support the regeneration of St Helier if a proposal submitted by backbench Deputy Inna Gardiner receives approval from the States Assembly.
Deputy Gardiner has tabled an amendment to the upcoming Budget, urging ministers to honour earlier commitments to rejuvenate parts of the town in partnership with the parish of St Helier.
In her accompanying report, she highlighted that town improvements had been repeatedly cited as a strategic priority by the Council of Ministers. A sum of £500,000 for neighbourhood enhancements was previously included in the 2025–2028 Budget, but none of the funds were spent in 2025.
The Deputy, representing St Helier North, proposed that the allocation be formally included in the Budget and distributed equally over the next three years, at £167,000 per year from 2026 to 2028.
“This method respects current budget constraints while fulfilling the Assembly’s previous commitment”
“This method respects current budget constraints while fulfilling the Assembly’s previous commitment,” Deputy Gardiner said. “It also offers a practical way to accelerate improvements in areas where residents have long faced the impact of concentrated housing growth without matching infrastructure investment.”
She added that the funding would help modernise streets, enhance pedestrian safety, and create safer cycling networks.
Deputy Gardiner suggested that the money could come from reductions in other areas of the Budget earmarked for infrastructure and public realm projects. A key condition of the proposal is that the parish of St Helier matches the government contribution, citing recent successful partnership work on Halkett Street.
The parish has already completed regeneration work on Pomona Road and begun projects on Poonah Road, with potential to expand improvements to Clearview Street, Savile Street, Belmont Road, and Great Union Road.
“The additional funding will not only speed up the regeneration of town neighbourhoods but also allow the parish to tackle more complex projects that have been limited by a lack of resources,” she said.
The States Assembly is scheduled to debate the Budget and the 34 proposed amendments during the second week of December.
