Tourgis gets go-ahead

ALDERNEY'S building industry could be set for a much-needed boost after the States announced it had finally granted planning permission to develop Fort Tourgis.

Dutch company Verweij en Partners (VP) was given the green light this week by members of the Building and Development Control Committee following prolonged negotiations.

And, in what could prove a double fillip for the island economy, Blue Horizon could soon start building 36 properties on the Grand Site - provided States members back the scheme at their meeting next week.

The news on Tourgis is particularly significant. Many islanders scoff at the thought of the derelict fort ever being redeveloped.

People question whether anyone has enough cash to renovate the Victorian building, while many are concerned that whatever the ruin is turned into will not prove profitable.

Over the years, schemes to turn Tourgis into a casino, a marine research centre, luxury flats and a clinic for sufferers of mild psychiatric illnesses have all failed.

But BDCC chairman Geoffrey Sargent is confident that progress is being made.

'The issue of the development of Fort Tourgis has been on the agenda in Alderney for many years,' he said.

'While this is not the end of the process, planning permission is a significant stage in the sale and redevelopment of the fort. In many ways, the only way we can safeguard the future of this magnificent building is to find a partner to fund its development.'

VP has remained tight-lipped on the scheme since planning permission was announced. But when company director Frans Verweij visited the island earlier this year, he said work would start as soon as possible.

Speaking in May, he said: 'Our aim is to have the hotel built by the end of 2011. We'd like a building time of one year. It may seem quick to local people, but to us this is normal.'

VP's plan is to build a four- or five-star hotel with 57 rooms. The company expects to spend millions on the project.

'We don't expect to spend less than £20m. It will be one of the biggest projects on the island for many years,' said Frans. 'This project is important because the fort is beautiful. It just needs a new life and new use.'

And Frans is certain that the business plan will prove successful.

'We're confident enough to have put a lot of money into this project. We've spent hundreds of thousands so far and visited the island about 40 times,' he said.

'We have also seen this kind of project work at home. There are five islands to the north of Holland and some are the same size as Alderney. There, we have the same kind of conference facilities and they are run successfully.'

As for the Grand site, local people appear to be unsure about the plans - several residents at this week's people's meeting questioned whether Alderney needed 36 new properties.

It's no secret that the island's housing market is really struggling - house sales are down by around two-thirds since 2007. So what will happen when three dozen more properties come onto the market?

Whatever the economic outlook property-wise, local builders and tradesmen should benefit, provided both these major schemes come to fruition.