Parts of former tax office are rented out

Income Tax moved out of 2, Cornet Street in 2017, then last summer States Property Services began to offer out the building for use by private tenants.

‘Office suites are available on flexible terms with all utilities and rates included, which has the benefit of giving tenants cost certainty and simplified tenancy arrangements,’ a States spokesman said.

‘The Development & Planning Authority has stated its intention is to complete the drafting of a development framework for the South Esplanade during the course of this year.

‘The framework will remove some of the current uncertainties surrounding the potential development opportunities for the property. Once the development framework is approved, the future options for the site will be reassessed.’

Income tax is now part of the Revenue Service and based at Edward T Wheadon House in Le Truchot.

Another States asset which is likely to see changes shortly are the former Education offices on the Grange.

The site was recently put up for sale for £1.75m. A development framework has already been identified that it could be used for housing, although the scale of that development is not yet clear.

‘The former Education offices were one of the first major States-owned sites to be released as part of the ongoing programme of property rationalisation,’ a States spokesman said.

‘This programme aims to see government make better use of its property portfolio and free up sites that are not needed in order to reduce maintenance costs and generate income through the sale of surplus property.

‘Importantly, the programme also makes more valuable real estate available to the private sector and the wider community.

‘It is one of the key pillars of the government’s wider public sector reform programme.’

Public service reform has seen the States reduce the number of buildings it uses and introduce smarter and more modern ways of working.

This work is ongoing under Smart Guernsey and will be a benefit to customers, too, with fewer places to have to visit to access public services.

Head of estates strategy Mark Ogier said: ‘Moving out of the former Education offices was one of the earlier, more high-profile steps of the property rationalisation process.

‘Getting to the stage where we can now put that site on the market is a milestone and I’m confident there are plenty of potential buyers out there who will see the value of this large site in a great Town location.’