Final Effort to Expand Millennium Town Park Falls Through

Government to Proceed with New Primary School at Former Gasworks Site Despite Calls for More Green Space

Jersey’s government has confirmed it will move forward with plans to build a new primary school on the former gasworks site in St Helier, despite renewed efforts to have the land added to the Millennium Town Park instead.

Constable Simon Crowcroft had urged the States Assembly to ask ministers to rethink the project, arguing that residents in the island’s capital deserve more public green space. However, his proposal was decisively rejected, with 31 members voting against and just 10 in favour.

The government intends to construct a modern, purpose-built school to replace St Luke’s, Springfield, and La Passarelle — all of which have been described as outdated and unsuitable for modern education.

Constable Crowcroft questioned whether the new school was still necessary, citing Jersey’s declining birth rate. But Education Minister Rob Ward defended the plan, telling the Assembly:

“A modern, purpose-built primary school in St Helier isn’t about reacting to today’s numbers, it’s about planning for the next generation.”

Deputy Catherine Curtis, also of Reform Jersey, backed the minister’s view, stressing the poor condition of existing facilities.

“These schools do not have adequate facilities, and that’s not fair,” she said.

Infrastructure Minister Andy Jehan echoed those concerns, insisting that town children deserved a school “fit for purpose in the modern age.”

Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel also criticised repeated attempts to block agreed projects, warning that such indecision risked stalling progress.

“Jersey’s in real danger of achieving nothing at all, time and time and time again,” he said.

With the vote now settled, work is expected to continue toward delivering the new school, marking the end of another effort to expand Millennium Town Park.