The Health & Social Care Committee wants to redevelop and extend the former States offices into a single base for children’s and families’ services, though it stressed the figure was only an estimate given uncertainty over building costs.
The committee said it would ideally have demolished the existing buildings and redeveloped the site from scratch, but could not justify the extra cost ‘in the current financial climate’. Even as a redevelopment, it said the scheme would be potentially transformative.
Much of the States’ community health and care provision for children and families is currently delivered from Lukis House, Swissville, Garden Hill, Perruque House and Le Carrefour – an estate the committee said had grown up in response to demand rather than through strategic planning.
‘These buildings are not fit for purpose due to their age and design,’ said HSC. ‘Children, young people and families are often required to attend multiple locations to access support, creating barriers to co-ordinated care and a fragmented experience for service users.’
The committee said the ageing estate was also costly to maintain, with poor energy efficiency, and created difficulties running services from several sites.
Without a long-term solution, it warned that significant public money would have to be spent across the ageing properties ‘simply to maintain the status quo’.
While pointing to the long-term financial case, HSC said the main driver was a much-improved service, with the new facility designed to be ‘welcoming, inclusive and therapeutic’. The hub could also open opportunities to work more closely with third-sector organisations, it added.
The committee estimated the buildings it would vacate were worth £8.5m. and, while accepting it was outside its mandate, said those sites could make ‘a significant contribution to local housing provision’.
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