Businesses in Jersey’s Les Quennevais Precinct and Parade have raised concerns about high rents and delayed maintenance, leaving many retail units vacant and the area struggling to thrive.
Several business owners have said high rents deter new enterprises from setting up shop, while slow repairs have hampered the operations of existing ones. Hairdresser Carina Faria, who works in the shopping centre, stated that lower rents could rejuvenate the area. “It could be thriving, but the rents are too high, and things are falling apart,” she said. Faria added that both the landlords and the Government of Jersey share responsibility for the decline.
Deirdre Bates, owner of a neighboring clothing store, echoed these concerns. She highlighted challenges caused by delayed repairs, citing a water leak in her shop in 2023 that took an extended time to fix. “It ruins the experience for customers,” Bates said, although the issue has since been resolved.
Landlord and Management Under Fire
The majority of the retail units are owned by UK-based High Tide Investments Ltd and managed by Maillard and Co. Both companies have faced criticism from tenants over high rents and slow maintenance. Chris Marsh, group managing director of Maillard and Co, explained that tenants are responsible for internal repairs, while landlords handle structural and common area maintenance. However, he noted that additional work would result in increased costs for tenants.
Government's Role in Revitalization
Environment Minister Deputy Steve Luce said the government could not directly intervene in landlord decisions. “We can encourage shops to stay as shops, but we can’t force owners to take action,” Luce said. Deputy Helen Miles disagreed with this approach, arguing that revitalizing areas like Les Quennevais should be a government priority. She advocated for implementing the west of island planning framework to stimulate development. However, Luce dismissed the idea, stating that landowners ultimately hold the power to drive changes in the area.
Community's Call for Action
Despite these challenges, businesses in the precinct are calling for greater cooperation between landlords, managing agents, and the government to improve conditions. Bates summarized the sentiment, saying, “We try to make the area as welcoming as possible, but we need more support to truly bring it back to life.”