A long-running review of the centre, 50 years old this year, has concluded that:
it is still a valuable community asset;
some of its facilities are well-used or even over-used, but some are vastly under-used;
and the building is now ageing and arguably no longer fit for purpose.
The Committee for Education, Sport & Culture has identified a clear case for change, and thinks that a rebuild and redevelopment as a sports campus might be the future, if it proves affordable.
‘The sustainability review identifies that Beau Sejour’s future has reached “a crossroads”, and that is entirely accurate,’ said ESC president Paul Montague.
‘The centre has been improved and patched up incrementally over the years, but we’ve now reached the point where something more significant is undeniably required. This also reflects a bigger crossroads for Guernsey.
'We need to look carefully at our major public buildings and think radically about how the island’s facilities can be made fit for the future, and this committee is determined to take on that challenge.’
A redevelopment of Beau Sejour is on the States’ long list for a major capital spend but ESC admitted that it would need to consider affordability and deliverability of a project, and test the appetite for change.
‘The review is clear on one thing – there is a real, evidenced need for investment, and simply doing nothing is not a viable long-term strategy,’ Deputy Montague added.
ESC has ruled out closing the centre despite a clear case for change.
Instead the committee agrees that Beau Sejour needs to look to evolve from a traditional leisure centre into a modern inclusive community hub or ‘wellbeing campus’, integrating sport, culture, health, youth, education, civic and wellbeing services.
That could be done either through a major refurbishment or a rebuild – which the committee presents as two ‘different strategic choices’, rather than simply different financial options.
ESC said that a rebuild was likely to offer the strongest long-term solution and the greatest flexibility, while refurbishment may offer a more deliverable and lower-cost route in the shorter term.
Both options would include the potential to accommodate post-16 vocational training, such as sports and public services courses, wider physical activity opportunities for all learners, and even some new housing on parts of the site.
Although Beau Sejour makes an operating between £870,000 and £1m. a year, the report indicated that it generates a minimum estimated social value of around £1.4m. a year.
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