Brickfield House identified as preferred new dairy site

A new dairy, the concept of which was supported by the States in 2020, has slipped down the list of States priorities and is said now to be ‘in abeyance’.

Following the 2020 vote the States’ Trading Supervisory Board evaluated 16 sites and came down to just two realistic options – the designated key industrial area in Pitronnerie Road, and Brickfield House, its preferred site.

But the cost of such a project remains at an estimated £22-26m. and it is not proceeding.

However, STSB continues to work up the business case for a long-term solution, and is carrying out essential maintenance and replacing equipment to keep production going.

Between June 2020 and March 2022 it spent £362,000 on capital items and £554,000 on repairs and maintenance, lower than expected because UK specialists could not get to the island to work during Covid lockdowns.

STSB expects that repair and maintenance costs will increase in 2022. £450,000 has been budgeted for this year and in the future until a full refurbishment or a new dairy is completed.

The board offered the details in response to written questions from Deputy Neil Inder, who said he was inspired to pick up on the issue after building new staff accommodation on green fields in the hospital grounds – almost backing on to the dairy site – was raised.

‘Given that in the dairy debate of June 2020 there was discussion on what the site could become if the dairy moved, including accommodation or medical facilities, it seemed an opportune time to seek some clarification as to where STSB was with the dairy project,’ he said.

Deputy Inder said he was sceptical about the high costs indicated for the project and said he would probably ask further questions.

‘Everything is so much more expensive in the public sector than in the private sector and I’m always wary of bloat on these projects,’ he said.

‘I’ve asked some Rule 14s of HSC [Health & Social Care] on their key worker accommodation project. A bit of me had hoped the dairy site could be cleared and could be identified as accommodation for staff, but given the eye-watering costs involved, sadly, there’s not a cat in hell’s chance of that happening now STSB have priced the project out of this term.’

The dairy site is approximately 4,590 sq metres, or four-and-a-half vergees. STSB said it would no longer need the site if the dairy moved, so it would work with other committees to identify the best use for it, but it has not yet started those discussions.