It said that life was being brought back to town through residential developments including five flats completed above Clintons in the High Street, a further 10 being developed above the former Burton store, as well as recent planning permissions to convert space above shops in the Commercial Arcade and former office blocks in Le Marchant Street and Rue de Pre for residential use.
The GRG said it had urged deputies ahead of July’s tax reform debate to treat regeneration of the town centre and the Bridge not as cosmetic projects but as economic infrastructure – and believed this private investment in housing in the centre of town would do exactly that.
‘We applaud the work of Kirkwood Properties and other investors who are delivering these projects, which we believe will benefit the retail sector, and in turn the wider economy,’ said GRG director Victoria Taylor-Beard.
‘Offering new and refurbished flats within the town centre will add to the vibrancy of our main shopping area, by bringing people together with the many retailers, hospitality businesses and other facilities available.’
Ms Taylor-Beard said making use of redundant office and retail space, and upgrading existing flats, would allow more people to live in the town centre and add to St Peter Port’s role as a hub for retail, hospitality, events, transport and tourism.
She agreed with Development & Planning Authority president Deputy Neil Inder that ‘a lived-in town is a living town’.
‘Utilising redundant office and retail space for residential use, and upgrading existing flats, will encourage and allow more people to live in our town centre, adding to St Peter Port as a “hub” for retail, hospitality, events, transport, and tourism.’
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