Clarity welcome on development agency's role
PUBLIC understanding of the prospect of the establishment of a development agency for the States to promote the development of St Peter Port and St Sampson’s harbours, and the coast in between the two, has benefitted this week from the clarity of a former States member who has seen such arrangements work at first hand.
Stuart Falla is the chairman of the Policy & Resources sub-committee which is overseeing the establishment of the new body, which would operate at arm’s length from the States, while taking strategic direction from government.
He was also involved with the States Trading Supervisory Board and its work in developing proposals for enhancement of the St Peter Port seafront and a potential new harbour – projects which were ultimately scrapped in favour of progressing the development agency concept, which he is now supporting.
‘Something has to be done and only by setting up something like this agency will you be able to take this bigger vision, as long as there is an overall States strategy,’ he said in yesterday’s newspaper.
In his professional life in construction, Mr Falla has seen a similar scheme work in Jersey – controversial at times, but he said that Guernsey has learned from the Jersey experience and is pursuing a different model, not acting as a developer, but facilitating private developers to do things and sometimes going back to the States.
The States has also taken stock of the recent Isle of Man experience in establishing a development agency, in its case to unlock brownfield opportunities in its capital Douglas.
Its consultants’ report noted, with some currency for Guernsey: ‘Concern was raised that previous attempts to develop specific urban areas had failed due to the inability to decide upon a course of action.’
It added: ‘The agency must have sufficient authority and power to deliver on a collaborative, holistic master plan for urban redevelopment that is designed with the input of key public and private interested parties.’
That report also noted how development never stands still, enhancing the status of an agency.
Islanders still don’t know exactly what might be achieved on the island’s east coast through a development agency. But on the basis that not much at all has been done, Admiral Park aside, in the past 30 years, many will hope that such an agency can inspire more activity for the benefit of all.