En Voyage - Issue #8

Business
GUERNSEY
HARBOUR AREA:
BUILDING FOR
TOMORROW
BY ANNALISA SPENCER, ASSOCIATE AT LOVELL OZANNE
IMAGE@JAMIELETISSIER.COM
St. Peter Port’s first man-made
harbour was built in 1275. The
construction of the harbour as we
know it was begun in the 1850s
after 20 years of deliberation by
the States. At this time the harbour
area was increased from 4.5 to 73
acres to include a large anchorage,
a floating dock, shipbuilding
yards and a careening hard.
The Guernsey we enjoy today
was built by our predecessors and
ancestors. Throughout Guernsey’s
history we can see examples of
where those in charge at the time
have made bold investments into
the island’s infrastructure in order
to facilitate our sustainable growth.
Making big investments in the future
is a daunting task. Nevertheless
we have a responsibility to the
island’s future generations to ensure
our infrastructure continues to
evolve and be fit for purpose.
Other previous examples can be
seen with the land reclamation of
the Braye in the early 1800s, forming
a connection we now rely on in the
island’s day-to-day functionality.
Likewise the land reclamation which
took place in the 1980s to create
North Beach and the QE2 marina;
which faced significant opposition
at the time and was barely approved
by the States. Looking back on these
decisions today, few would argue that
these developments have not been
economic enablers for Guernsey.
The Island Development Plan,
introduced in 2016, identifies
a requirement to consider the
Harbour Action Areas (HAAs).
This is a positive step in bringing
forward plans for the development
and expansion of these areas.
Members of Guernsey’s Chamber
of Commerce recently produced
a document which sets out a
suggested Framework for how
Guernsey’s Harbour Areas could be
developed, advising a communityled
vision, along with private and
public investment vehicles.
Even more encouragingly, the
States of Guernsey’s Committee for
Economic Development recently
published a paper which outlines
Guernsey’s Economic Vision. Amongst
other important areas identified
where States active encouragement
and investment will be necessary
to allow for economic growth, the
redevelopment of St Peter Port
Harbour is presented as a key issue.
The CfED advise that a coordinated
approach is taking place whereby
four of Guernsey’s committees (P&R,
CfED, CfE&I and the STSB) are coming
together to progress the first stage
of works in the enhancement of the
Harbour Area, and that this is one of
the States 23 prioritised policies.
The danger, of course, with such
a process is that there are too many
cooks! For all the interested parties
mentioned to agree a masterplan is a
major challenge – particularly within a
timescale that ensures the document
is still relevant when implemented.
Lovell Ozanne are about to
celebrate 60 years as architects on
this island. When we look back at
the many projects and dreams that
have been discussed over this time
frame it becomes apparent that
having focused and clear objectives
on a fixed programme is the only
way to avoid a project disappearing
into the bottom drawer of a filing
cabinet never to see the light of day.
Clearly this is the infrastructure
project of the generation and has the
potential for Guernsey to demonstrate
that we are a forward and outwardlooking
community. It is crucial now,
more than ever, that we continue to
build momentum and look to create
a legacy we can be proud of. This
means that we need to focus on
the bigger picture and avoid getting
distracted by short-term negativity.
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