GPC magazine - Issue 17 - Autumn/Winter 24

GUERNSEY PROPERTY AND CONSTRUCTION

Plaza House

The final stage of the Admiral Park project opens for business

Steve Marie

Comprop’s managing director on his time with the developer

Industry updates

Find out what’s going on around the island

La Grande Mare

Steve Lansdown’s ambitions for the west coast resort

DESIGNED WITH YOU IN MIND

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EDITOR

Tamara Timothy editor@gpcmagazine.com

SALES

Matt Collas matt@rockandsmall.com

DESIGN & PRODUCTION

Rock and Small Limited info@rockandsmall.com

Guernsey Property and Construction is produced by Rock and Small Limited.

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Guernsey Property and Construction is published by Rock and Small Limited. Copyright 2024 All rights reserved. Any reproduction without permission is prohibited. Guernsey Property and Construction contains editorial content from external contributors which does not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers and the factual accuracy of which cannot be guaranteed by the publishers. Guernsey Property and Construction does not accept or respond to unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. The publishers do not accept responsibility for errors in advertisements or third party offers.

EDITOR’S LETTER

Welcome to the autumn/ winter edition of the Guernsey Property and Construction magazine.

It’s been another busy time for the industry, with major projects both completing and underway all over the island. They don’t get much bigger than the Admiral Park development, which has reached its final stage with the opening of Plaza House. The 68,500 sq ft grade A office space is the first BREEAM accredited building on the island.

We have a full feature on the £43m project, along with a lookback at the history of the site, on page 4.

But while we always recognise the work that’s been done on site, we also want to hear from the people behind the projects. As managing director of Comprop CI Ltd, Steve Marie has been the man responsible for many of the island’s landmark modern commercial buildings. With the completion of Plaza House, he is planning to step down from the role, so I was delighted to sit down with him to reflect on his career and achievements. That interview is on page 17.

island, as well as giving a more shortterm boost to the local construction industry. Turn to page 60 for a full update on work so far, and his ambitions for the resort.

Finally, congratulations to the recent winners of the Guernsey Property and Construction Awards. The awards aim to highlight the importance of the industry and its people to the island, which is certainly something we always want to support. You can find more information about the evening and a full list of the nine winners on page 32.

Two of the winners are also profiled in this magazine. The refurbishment of the reception space at Moores Hotel, along with the opening of Jack’s Bar, was recognised with the ‘Internal Commercial Project of the Year’ award and you can find out more on page 20. The Sycamore Avenue development won the ‘Best Multi-Residential Project of the Year’ and we have a full feature on that project on page 36.

With plenty more throughout the pages of this magazine we really hope you enjoy it.

PUBLISHED BY

Another man I was very pleased to speak to for this issue was Steve Lansdown. His plans for La Grande Mare should have significant long-term benefits for the

Tamara Timothy Editor

Engaging architecture

Admiral Park Plaza, Guernsey To view our projects scan the QR code

If you are thinking about transforming your existing property, want to design a new office or need advice on a potential development, then talk to our team at Lovell Ozanne. We believe that great design is possible no matter how big or complex the project. We aim to offer a bespoke personal service whilst maintaining the capacity and expertise to tackle large scale developments. Using our experience and passion we make everyday spaces exceptional.

To book your free consultation please call 01481 235397 or email hello@lovellozanne.com

Residential | Commercial | Hotel | Education | Bespoke Homes

“People are at the heart of what we do and our client’s brief is always central to our thinking.”

ISSUE 16

04 Plaza House

The first BREEAM accredited building in Guernsey, the final piece of the Admiral Park jigsaw is complete

17 Steve Marie

As he prepares to step down from his role, the managing director of Comprop looks back at his career and achievements

20 Moores Hotel

A modern welcome as the heritage building gets a reception makeover and opens a newly refurbished bar

26 Industry news

From planning applications to new appointments, we round up all the industry news in the island

32 Guernsey Property and Construction Awards

The winners of the 2024 awards have been announced – find out the people and the projects recognised

36 Sycamore Avenue

This new development on a landmark site aimed for a design that was sympathetic to its surroundings

42 Argyll House

A family home designed from the heart – this west coast property takes full advantage of its location

48 White Star Capital

A company that knew it wanted the best – this office makeover spared no attention to detail

54 Upper House

It’s seen plenty of change over its lifetime, now the refurbished Upper House has entered a new era

59 Work in progress

The full story at La Grande Mare, along with updates on projects including Creaseys and Victoria Park

65 Industry updates

From the UK-based CIOB and APM to local groups such as the Guernsey Construction Forum and GOSHA, industry bodies showcase their expertise

PLAZA HOUSE

The final stage of Comprop’s Admiral Park development is open for business. More than two decades after the developer first started work on the site, the £43m Plaza House project is the new centrepiece of the business area. The 68,500 sq ft grade A office space is the most advanced of its type in the island, receiving the first BREEAM accreditation for a Guernsey building.

It’s taken more than 20 years, but the completion of Plaza House marks the final stage of Guernsey’s Admiral Park development. From the Checkers superstore [now Waitrose] that opened in 2001, to Plaza House in 2024 – the area, and the construction industry, has seen plenty of change during that time. But some things have remained constant – among them, developer Comprop, who has been responsible for the site.

Managing director, Steve Marie, has been involved with the project in various guises since the beginning. For him, the completion of the site is a reason for the developer, and the island, to celebrate: “The development of Admiral Park has transformed this area of Guernsey, and it’s something I’m personally very proud of. Not only do I think this final stage has added something aesthetically pleasing to the area, it’s also the most advanced building of its type in the island. It’s taken a lot of work to get here, but I’m delighted to see it complete.”

Work on the project started in 2022, with preparation works ongoing immediately following the completion of the previous phase of the Plaza. That work, which involved the construction of the Premier Inn, Good Rebel restaurant and office building No 1 The Plaza, was all undertaken by Rihoy & Son, who were also responsible for Plaza House.

For chair Gavin Rihoy, it’s been a pleasure to see the project come full circle: “Our involvement with Admiral Park stretches back to the initial building of the Checkers [now Waitrose] store and B&Q. Two decades on, it’s wonderful to bring the site to completion. Plaza House has been a very successful project for Rihoy’s, with the team able to meet every major deadline, and bring it on time and on budget.”

While the project completed to its deadline, it had faced challenges along the way. Poor weather over the winter led to unexpected delays, as Gavin explained: “While the project as a whole was made more straightforward due to the use of pre-cast lift shafts and staircases, it did end up causing some issues. We brought a large 110-ton crane to the island from the UK to install them. We put the jib up, only to find that the crane had a wind meter on it, which forced an automatic shut down when it blew over 22 miles an hour.

Photographs courtesy of Nick Després

“Guernsey’s winter gales therefore caused us some issues as we couldn’t lift the pre-cast into place. It was certainly an unscheduled delay, but good site management meant that we were able to get all the timings back on track. We also faced weather issues with the constant rain at the start of this year when we needed to get the roofing system in place during dry weather.”

But despite the weather doing its best to foil them, the project team overcame all the challenges to bring the project in on time. Comprop’s project manager, Andrew Ullyott of Jason Powers Consultants, has been a key part of the team throughout. For him, much of the success came from the team working together: “With all of us working on the previous phase, we have now worked together on Admiral Park for at least five years, so we have a lot of experience in how to run the project smoothly.

“At an early stage on Plaza House, I organised for a workshop for the team to look at the first phase of the project and how we could improve on that. We spent time and resources looking at the processes and the programme so we had a clear route to completion. It wasn’t a simple project, particularly as we were providing a Cat A finish for the main building

and then separate Cat B fit outs for different tenants. But despite all the potential complications, it worked out really well and I think everybody was happy with the end result.”

BUT DESPITE THE WEATHER DOING ITS BEST TO FOIL THEM, THE PROJECT TEAM OVERCAME ALL THE CHALLENGES TO BRING THE PROJECT IN ON TIME.

Another key player in the project team was Lovell Ozanne director Andy Merrett. Like many others involved in the development, he has worked on Admiral Park from its inception. For him, while the design of the site has evolved over time, the approach has stayed the same: “I’m particularly interested in classical architecture, which is based on a series of rules. While those rules are not inflexible, they do have a real emphasis on proportion. That approach to the proportions of buildings is reflected in all of the work we have done on the Admiral Park site. While designs, and materials, have evolved during the past two decades, we have always aimed for a coherent approach that ties the different buildings on the site together.

“If you look at the group of office buildings, the proportions of the neighbouring Trafalgar Court are reflected in both No 1 The Plaza and Plaza House. The grey stone that was previously used is now juxtaposed with the grey porcelain used for Plaza House. Each building stands alone designwise, but also has elements that show it is part of a larger architectural project.”

While Andy says construction methods and materials have changed during his time working on Admiral Park, he believes his approach has not: “I think that from my point of view the architectural approach hasn’t changed a great dealt. I believe a building needs to have a unique character, but also needs to be sit well within the urban context of the site and be respectful to adjoining buildings and the surrounding area. I think we’ve achieved that with Admiral Park, and it’s a project I’m very proud to have been involved with.”

That pride is an ongoing refrain from the team involved with the build. With a total spend of c.£80m on the recent phase of Admiral Park, it’s been a major investment in the island. But not only has it added new facilities to the area, it has also set the standard in building in the island. Plaza House is the first BREEAM accredited building in Guernsey – showing that environmental considerations can go alongside good business decisions.

FROM DESIGN TO BUILD

As main contractor, we are delighted to celebrate completion of the final phases of Comprop’s Admiral Park project, marking the end of £80 million in development over the past five years.

Jo Watts of Watts Property Consultants has been responsible for the marketing of the building. With the majority of Plaza House pre-let, she said it was clear there is a demand for this type of space in Guernsey: “The market has received it extremely positively. Many companies are now more concerned with their environmental, social and governance (ESG) credentials than they were in the past. Having a BREEAM accredited building really helps with that as it shows that the environmental impact of the office has been fully considered. At the same time, firms are looking to promote their office culture and environment to attract talent. Post-Covid we have seen companies putting in a great deal of effort to attract staff back into the office and a building such as Plaza House is clearly a good draw.”

The successful BREEAM accreditation was certainly no matter of luck – the process takes rigorous planning and preparation. The team had used the development of the St James Place building a couple of years ago as a dry run in terms of rehearsing for what would be needed. So when it came to Plaza House, they knew exactly what was required.

Part of their approach included the early involvement of the mechanical and electrical contractor. Director of C8, Ian Le Sauvage, explained why that was important: “We came in to the project far

earlier than we usually would when we were asked to work with Rihoy & Son and the architect. It was effectively a space review – we needed to ensure that all the systems required to attain the BREEAM classification would fit within the building being designed. It was a really sensible approach as it made sure that everything would fit correctly in the space and would also be easily accessible for future maintenance.”

When C8 won the tender for the project itself, the BREEAM rating was a focus of their work: “The systems have to be economical with energy, and they have to be controlled in an efficient way. It affected the lighting systems as we installed ones that would be dimmed during daylight hours. We also had to carefully consider the air handling, and supply air to the building that would be heated and cooled in an efficient way that would meet BREEAM requirements. It was a really interesting project, and we were really grateful to be involved. We’re also delighted that since completion we’ve had other clients interested in using our BREEAM expertise.”

While it’s hoped that other Guernsey buildings will follow suit, for now Plaza House stands alone. But for the team behind it, the BREEAM accreditation is just one of a number of benefits the development has brought to the island.

“We’ve now got a significant out of town business community and hub in Admiral Park. We’re tremendously proud to have been involved in the delivery of this final phase, and it’s a fantastic project to have on our CV,” said Gavin. “But it’s about much more than that – this project has been great for Guernsey. The confidence Comprop has shown in the island’s economy and future through this investment is something I think Guernsey should be very grateful for.”

That sentiment is something Jo echoed: “While the facilities support the island’s finance sector and help to promote its reputation, the benefits of this development stretch far beyond that. Admiral Park has created jobs; it’s supported the tourist industry; and it’s given a successful new venue to the hospitality industry. Comprop’s investment in the island will have benefited the economy in so many significant areas.”

While those involved want to pay credit to Steve and the investment from Comprop, Steve himself is clear that it was the strength of the team that enabled the success of the project: “The whole process of completing this site has been a collaborative one between the Comprop team and the contractor. A project of this size always has challenges but the approach taken by all involved was to work together to find solutions, with an excellent end result. We’re delighted to see Admiral Park complete and hope Guernsey continues to benefit from it.”

SETTING THE STANDARD

Plaza House is Guernsey’s first BREEAM accredited building, which recognises its environmental sustainability. The development has been given a ‘very good’ rating.

The Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) was established in 1990, and has issued more than half a million BREEAM certificates since that time. Certification can be issued to new constructions, in-use buildings, or refurbishment or fit-out projects.

THE CONTRACTORS

Developer:

Comprop CI Limited

Designers and consultants:

Blue Sky Office

Brian Livesey

C8

CBL Consulting

Collas Crill

Henderson Green

Jason Powers Consultants

Lovell Ozanne

Tillyard

Waddington

Watts Property Consultants

Assessors have applied the BREEAM rating system to the building to assess its green credentials across nine core areas including energy, health and wellbeing, materials, management, land use and ecology, pollution, transport, waste and water.

For Steve, meeting BREEAM standards was the right thing to do for the development: “BREEAM is a globally recognised code for good construction, and the islands have lagged behind with it. The first BREEAM rated building in Jersey

was constructed 30 years ago, so it was certainly time for Guernsey to follow suit. We trialled meeting the requirements with our St James development, so we were knew we were ready to apply for the accreditation with Plaza House. I hope that now we’ve set the standard in Guernsey, others will follow suit.”

You can find more information about the certification requirements and process at www.breeam.com

Main contractor:

Rihoy & Son

Subcontractors:

Aarsleff

Bourne Steel

BPP Energy

Cladtech Associates

Edge Protection Systems

Environoise

Firesafe

FP McCann

Geomarine

Geoshield

Interior Systems

Otis

Quantum Cabling

Maze Fire

P3 Projection Coatings

Salisbury Glass

Sarnian Roofing

Simpkins

Stainless Steel Fabrications

Style

Plaza House

A milestone 2 years in the making

C8 is a trusted leader in Guernsey’s mechanical and electrical engineering sector, renowned for delivering innovative and sustainable solutions to complex projects.

As a key partner in the completion of Plaza House, our largest project to date, C8 played a pivotal role from preconcept design through to final completion. Our in-house team expertly navigated the challenge of coordinating both the main development and individual tenant requirements, facilitating early move-ins through a phased approach.

By adopting BREEAM principles, we prioritised sustainability throughout the project, demonstrating our commitment to both technical excellence and environmental responsibility.

List of works

 Pre-concept design and full service design

 VRV air conditioning system

 Full heat recovery ventilation system

 Ventilation smoke and fire damper controls

 Smoke clearance system

 Hot and cold water services

 Dry-riser system

 Lighting with intelligent control

 Underfloor power and desk systems

 General electrical power and distribution

 BMS (Building Management System)

 Fire alarms

PRINCE OF WALES

C8 is proud to have been integral to Plaza House’s success.

 Door access

 Data systems

 CCTV and intruder systems

 AV installations

 Leak detection

 Disabled refuge

A long-established player on Guernsey’s bar and restaurant scene, the Prince of Wales has recently received a significant redesign.

 Uninterrupted power supply systems

 Lightning protection

With a brief to bring the dated establishment back to life and diversify the clientele, architects DLM worked with the listed building to create something that reflected its heritage while meeting modern demands.

www.wearec8.com

C8 Mechanical & Electrical

Unit 7, Les Caches Business Park, St. Martin, Guernsey GY4 6PH | 01481 232828

ADMIRAL PARK: FROM START TO FINISH

CHECKERS SUPERSTORE

Now operating as Waitrose, the building was first developed as a Checkers Superstore for Le Riches Stores in 2001. The store is 52,000 sq ft net plus has access to a 500 space shared car park with B&Q.

B&Q

The B&Q store was opened for business two years after the neighbouring supermarket. Both units share the adjacent car park.

MARTELLO COURT & DOREY COURT

Known collectively as ‘Flagship Offices’, the construction of two 90,000 sq ft four-storey Cat A office buildings provided first class business accommodation for the island, and has been a striking addition to the landscape for the past 20 years.

VEGA APARTMENTS

84 high class residential units were constructed to the front seaside of the site, many purchased off plan. Including local and open market residences, the development has stunning views across the islands.

47

Sarnian Roofing are approved contractors for Alkor single ply membrane, the leading PVC roofing product on the island and within the Channel Islands for the past 27 years. We also supply and lay Polyroof products, the main liquid flat roofing solution, we also specialise in leadworks.

PREMIER INN, GOOD REBEL, NO 1 THE PLAZA, MULTI-STOREY CAR PARK

The next stage in its development was a busy time on the Admiral Park site. Site clearance started in 2019 and, despite the challenges of Covid, work completed in 2022. Admiral Park is now home to a 100-bedroom Premier Inn hotel, restaurant Good Rebel and a 30,000 sq ft office development. A 700 space multi storey car park was also erected to service the new development.

A STATEMENT BUILDING FOR THE 21ST CENTURY

For further information on the remaining space please contact: jo.watts@watts.property or wing.lai@watts.property or call 01481 740071 Watts Property congratulate Comprop and the rest of the team on the successful completion of Plaza House. As Managing Agent, we look forward to working with the tenants going forward.

Unlocking Potential Every Day

PLAZA HOUSE

The final stage in Comprop’s Admiral Park project is now open for business. The £43m project created a new centrepiece for Admiral Park on the main plaza area. With construction complete and tenants in situ, the 68,500 sq ft grade A office space is the island’s first BREEAM accredited building.

On your team

Collas Crill’s Real Estate team has been involved in the Admiral Park development from the very start.

From the first building on the site in the early 2000s - Trafalgar Court - culminating in the completion of Plaza House, we are proud to have been involved in this flagship development.

‘Over the last 20 plus years we have acted for landlord; tenant; lender; seller and buyer on all the different aspects of the project,’ said Jason Green, Senior Partner, Collas Crill.

‘On a personal note I am proud to have been involved in acting for Comprop in relation to phase two of this flagship development - it’s the centre piece of Admiral Park - Guernsey’s very own Canary Wharf. Working on this development has been one of the major highlights in my 30 years of legal practice.’

To find out how we can help you, visit collascrill.com or call 01481 723191

JASON GREEN Senior Partner, Real Estate

STEVE MARIE

As managing director of Comprop, Steve Marie has overseen the development of some of the island’s most prestigious, and challenging, commercial sites. With the final phase of Admiral Park complete, he now plans to step down from his role later this year. We spoke to him to look back on his career and what he has achieved during his time with the development firm.

Steve Marie’s tenure at Comprop will have left a lasting mark on the island. During his years with the company, he has successfully led on multi-million pound commercial and residential projects that have had a significant impact on Guernsey.

It’s been a far cry from the career path he expected when he left school in Jersey aged 16.

“When I finished school, I was fairly certain I would be involved with boats in some way, and in fact I did spend a short time as an apprentice marine engineer. I then moved to a job with Bluewater Yachts and spent two years in their joinery shop.”

It was that time that took Steve away from the water and into the construction industry.

“That role really piqued my interest in carpentry so I left Bluewater Yachts and then undertook an apprenticeship with a local building firm before setting up a carpentry business.”

As Steve approached 30, another sea change occurred. Looking for more stability and new opportunities, he decided to move away from self-employment to a salaried role with the States of Jersey.

“I secured a job as a trainee clerk of works. Not only was the work enjoyable, but the States was very supportive in training its staff. They encouraged and funded me to study for an ONC and HNC in construction management and building. This education was invaluable and also allowed me to

become a member of relevant professional bodies. I won various awards while I was studying, including the Croad Gold Medal which is presented for the highest academic attainment.”

From the States of Jersey, a job at [then] Le Riches Stores as the maintenance manager beckoned. Quickly promoted, he was a member of the executive board by 37, with responsibility for a property portfolio including all acquisitions, disposals and store refurbishments. It was then he first became involved with his career-defining project, Admiral Park.

“That was around the millennium. At the time, Le Riches owned the Cash and Carry where B&Q now is, and also operated its Guernsey offices from the site. My first major project was the building of the Checkers superstore [now Waitrose]. I was the client, Comprop was the developer, and Rihoy & Son was the contractor – I could not have imagined that all these years later it was to come full circle.”

Following the success of that project, Le Riches Stores merged with Ann Street and Bucktrouts to form CI Traders, which offered further opportunities to develop an even larger portfolio. Eventually CI Traders was purchased by Sandpiper Ltd. While Steve stayed for a short time as property director, he quickly realised it was not a good fit for him.

Tillyard are proud to have supported Comprop (C.I.) Ltd in the successful completion of the Admiral Park development in Guernsey. Tillyard provided Quantity Surveyor and Cost Consultant services on this significant mixed-use development, featuring the island’s first fully BREEAM-rated building.

Tillyard

Chartered Quantity Surveyors and Project Managers Second Floor, Commercial House, Commercial Street, St Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands JE2 3RU T:738556 E:enquiries@tillyardci.com

“I was not happy, and Tom Scott [senior] approached me and asked if I would like to run Comprop. It was an easy decision to make – both personally and professionally. I had known and worked with Tom when he was chairman of CI Traders and we had got on very well, and I thought it was an exciting opportunity.

“I enjoyed working closely with Tom during my early years at Comprop. When he passed away in 2012, his son Tom wanted me to carry on and help develop the Comprop business. In total, I have had the pleasure of running Comprop for 16 years. Both Toms have been great to work for and have always been very supportive, the role has been very rewarding for me. The Scott family has been a large private investor into the local economy and a strong supporter of the island of Guernsey.”

Despite being based in Jersey, the majority of Comprop’s development work has been undertaken on the sister island. Steve says that focus on Guernsey was very deliberate.

“In the early days of Comprop, we also undertook a number of projects in Jersey. However, the market was really tough as the States of Jersey had introduced their own development company, of which I have been a fairly strong critic. I do not believe that government should be involved in business or competition with the private sector; it just creates an imbalance and unnecessary interference. With the States and Dandara both operating in Jersey, the Comprop board decided to make Guernsey our priority, and that’s turned out to be a good business decision.”

That good decision has clearly been one of many that Steve has been involved with

during his tenure with the developer. While his practical background has stood him in good stead when tackling the challenging projects, he also has a successful business head on his shoulders.

THERE’S A BIT OF GUT INSTINCT INVOLVED, BUT MAINLY IT’S ABOUT KNOWING YOUR MARKET AND ENSURING WE PRODUCE A HIGH-QUALITY DEVELOPMENT THAT PEOPLE OR COMPANIES ARE GOING TO WANT. IT’S WORKED SO FAR.

“When we look at potential projects, the fundamental starting point is to ensure that the end product can either be sold or let on completion, and that it is viable. Otherwise, there’s no point doing it. But that’s far easier said than done. These major projects are years in the making and require certain levels of funding from the outset, with no guarantee they will come to fruition –so we need to plan and start work while projecting the future market.

“There’s a bit of gut instinct involved, but mainly it’s about knowing your market and ensuring we produce a high-quality development that people or companies are going to want. It’s worked so far.”

Comprop has operated as a small team for a number of years. Steve has been supported by his right-hand woman, Rachel Lewis, with the rest of the project team outsourced.

“Rachel is absolutely brilliant. Without her backup, I would definitely have needed more people on staff. She has a full understanding of the property business and projects and worked with me for 22 years. When we decided not to employ a large team of direct staff, it was a purposeful move to ensure we could increase our flexibility. This gave us the opportunity to pick the right professionals for each specific project, which I think has been a successful business model, even though it has meant more pressure on me at certain times.”

Luckily, Steve seems to be a man who can withstand plenty of pressure. He describes his time leading up to Comprop as a ’30 year apprenticeship’, and he’s been able to bring a wealth of skills to the role.

“There’s no job description to run a property development company, although you definitely need a good general knowledge of the industry. I think people skills are probably the most key. So much involves pulling teams together and getting them in the right places. I am also a big advocate of sitting down and resolving any issues as early as possible. Every project is going to have its problems, but if the team respects each other and works together it’s going to be far more successful in the long run.

“Obviously you need to have technical skills as well. If you don’t have a good broad knowledge and understanding of what you’re dealing with, nobody is going to trust you. That’s where my long apprenticeship comes in handy – I’m talking from experience. However, it is also important to know what you don’t know, never be afraid to ask awkward questions.”

With Plaza House completed, it marks the end of the 25-year Admiral Park development – and Steve’s last project for Comprop. While he says there’s some sadness, there’s also plenty to celebrate. Looking back over his time, he says it’s hard to pick his favourite projects.

“The one that visually gives me the greatest pleasure is Havelet Waters. I wasn’t very keen on that scheme to start with, but with the help and guidance of Andrew Ozanne, the initial scheme was developed. The actual project proved to be technically very challenging. However, the development really grew on me, and I think the finished article fits well in its surroundings. It was completed five years ago and I am sure will stand the test of time. The project was also a winner at the UK Property Awards 20192020, which complimented the design of the buildings.

Steve with some of the Admiral Park project team

“Admiral Park has to be my biggest achievement though. Closing the circle with Plaza House feels like such an important milestone. We certainly had times during the project where I wasn’t sure it would ever get finished. Covid for us, like all businesses, was extremely challenging but strengthened the working relationship between Rihoys and the project team. Seeing people now using the offices and restaurant and hotel gives me such pleasure.”

With Admiral Park complete, Steve says he can’t see the market calling for another major new build office in Guernsey any time soon. He believes that unless it is tenantdriven by a cast iron pre-let, it is just too risky and expensive to speculatively build.

“I think the market is quite saturated for new build office space. But there is still a market – major firms have a presence here and global companies tend to have higher ESG requirements etc. I hope there will be new build offices in years to come as tenants need to improve their ESG credentials and actively buy into new build efficiencies, so it will be interesting to see how things develop.”

Steve’s fairly adamant it won’t be him involved in the development though. While he may spend some time in non-executive roles in the future, he’s planning a bit of a break first. For a man who thought he’d work with boats, Steve’s career has been very land-based. He says he’s bought a ‘retirement boat’ and fully intends to enjoy life on the water. Luckily, as a frequent visitor to Guernsey, he’ll be able to admire the landmarks he’s helped create every time he sails into St Peter Port.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the people and companies that I have had the pleasure of working with over the past 30 years in Guernsey. I promise I will still be dropping in for the odd coffee in the future.”

COMPROP: THE GUERNSEY PROJECTS

During the past two decades, Comprop’s investment in the island has been significant. Steve estimates the final figure is around £240m, and arguably higher if land values and finance are taken into account. It’s changed the face of the island and benefited the local economy immeasurably.

2004

GENERALI HOUSE

Providing 25,000 sq ft of office accommodation over four storeys, the award-winning building was constructed in 2004 to provide state of the art office accommodation in central St Peter Port.

2009

2006

CAREY HOUSE

Formerly Commerce House, the refurbishment of the 1970s office building provided a first class flagship office and parking for local law firm, Carey Olsen. The multi-million pound project radically changed the internal and external structure.

BUCKTROUT HOUSE

Part of the Glategny Court development, the restoration of the heritage building involved a sensitive refurbishment to provide modern office accommodation inside the listed structure.

2009

GLATEGNY COURT

Glategny Court provided high quality office accommodation of 61,729 sq ft over four floors. 110 car parking spaces were also provided within a purpose built car park to the rear of the site, with four residential units on Don Street providing a street scene to the front of the car park.

CROW’S NEST (SHIP & CROWN)

Located on the top two floors of the St Peter Port pub, a major structural refit enabled a new restaurant and bar to be opened in the space.

CLIFTON HEIGHTS

The apartments on Les Canichers comprise of 13 local market twobedroom apartments and an open market penthouse with panoramic sea view. All of the contemporary apartments benefit from underground parking, while the building complements the street scene.

GT CARS

A challenging project, it took many years of negotiation to obtain approval to develop the former brownfield site. Now the multi-use commercial operation is occupied by the Channel Islands Co-operative Society, providing a fuel forecourt and retail outlet, and Fox International.

ADMIRAL PARK

The site includes Waitrose, B&Q, Martello and Dorey Courts, Trafalgar Court, Vega Apartments, No 1 The Plaza, Premier Inn, Good Rebel and Plaza House. With the first building (Checkers Superstore) completing in 2001 and the final stage, Plaza House, just finished – it’s been Comprop’s most significant Guernsey project.

ST JAMES PLACE

Built on the site of the former Guernsey Prison, high-end office accommodation has now been provided in this unique development in the centre of St Peter Port. A basement car park supports four floors of office space offering in the £10m development.

HAVELET WATERS

This residential development was created from a site previously used as the Guernsey Brewery. The project presented many challenges due to its location and heritage value. The scheme of 26 local market and eight open market units was completed in late 2018.

MOORES HOTEL

Visitors to Moores Hotel in central St Peter Port will now be greeted with a more modern welcome in the heritage building. The entrance and reception of the Best Western hotel has had a renovation – while a new bar, Jack’s, is now open to residents and visitors. Winner of the ‘Internal Commercial Project’ category at this year’s Guernsey Property and Construction Awards, the project has improved the hotel’s accessibility as well as its appearance.

With its traditional granite frontage and heritage listing, Moores Hotel has always had the means to make a good first impression. But with its reception area looking rather dated, and an unused former bar somewhat wasted space, the Sarnia Hotels group decided it was the right time for a major overhaul. For operations director, Calum Le Noury, it was an important project: “The reception area is the gateway to the whole hotel, so we really wanted to get it right. We felt we could enhance the working spaces for our team as well as improve accessibility for our customers, and give the whole area a new, more modern finish. I’m delighted with what’s been achieved.”

Tom Bourgaize, director at The Drawing Room, was responsible for the project. For him, he had to balance the business requirements with the aesthetics of the space: “We had to be sensitive to the fact it is a listed building, while trying to ensure it was more suitable for the team and for the guests. We knew the office wasn’t big enough and the reception wasn’t ideally situated, so we brought the reception desk out into the main lobby area. That created more space for the back office, which could also then be separated out to create a distinct reception area.”

Alongside the main reception area and back office, new toilets have been installed on the ground floor – including a disabled facility, which had previously been lacking.

Interior design consultant Michele Hilton worked on the development. Like the rest of the team, she’s collaborated with Sarnia Hotels on previous projects and had a clear idea of what needed to be achieved: “While we were drawn to period colours for the space, they tend to be quite dense and chalky. There was also a leaning towards darker colours, but the lobby needed to feel bright and welcoming, while still respecting its heritage. In the end, we used a paint from the Little Greene Paint Company in a Wedgwood type blue called ‘James’. I think it’s worked really well, and has tied the lobby in to the rest of the refurbishment.”

While its appearance has changed significantly, the work to the reception area wasn’t quite as comprehensive as it might

MAKING MOORES MORE ACCESSIBLE

As a listed building in central St Peter Port, with external steps to the entrance, making Moores Hotel accessible was always going to be a challenge. But, as Calum explained, they wanted to do their best for those customers who need extra assistance:

“Accessibility is a priority for us across the whole hotel group. Whenever we are doing a building project of any description we try to bring in any improvements we can. Of all our properties, Moores has specific challenges –most significantly due to the fact we can’t change the levels coming into the hotel.”

For Tom, it was an important consideration with the design: “We identified the faults with the building and considered ways we could help solve those. While permanent ramped access wasn’t an option, we suggested a lightweight, portable ramp that could be stored when not in use but had a shallower gradient than their previous equipment.

“We redesigned the front door to have a single opening rather than two narrow doors, and installed an automatic internal door as you enter the property. We also made the circulation within the building easier by adding handrails where necessary.”

While the building already had a lift, accessible ground floor toilets were added as well as clear signage for anybody with visual impairments. Finally, the new reception desk was installed with a lowered area for wheelchair users.

WE IDENTIFIED THE FAULTS WITH THE BUILDING AND CONSIDERED WAYS WE COULD HELP SOLVE THOSE.

first appear, as Tom explained: “We redecorated the internal hallway etc, but the joinery in that area was all of high quality. There are a lot of original features such as the coving and architrave which were obviously retained but redecorated, along with the panelling. We did, however, need to take the flooring up and retile in that area so that was a more significant piece of work.”

Main contractor Rihoy & Son was responsible for the work on the hotel. Managing director Dan Taylor explained how the work extended somewhat beyond its initial scope: “We effectively refurbished the whole ground floor, including the front entrance, lobby, reception and bar. We rebuilt the office on the left-hand side as you enter the building, and added a disabled toilet. However, when we stripped back the walls in the toilets, it became evident that more attention was required to the waterproofing. The rear of the building sits into the hill so the tanking was a priority, and the limited original tanking needed more extensive replacement than originally envisioned.”

While the reception area will be a noticeable change for everyone accessing the hotel premises, just as much work has gone into creating the new ground floor bar. A previous bar in the space had suffered smoke damage following a chimney fire and had been closed for a number of years. Refurbishing and reopening it had been the starting point of the whole project, so it was a challenge Tom was keen to tackle.

“We tried to look at the space objectively before we started, and one of the first things we recognised was that the position of the bar in the room could be improved. The room had originally been designed with the bar on an angle on one side of the room. With old buildings such as this, there is usually a good sense of symmetry and this didn’t complement it. We decided for the optimum use of space, the bar should be moved and feel a little less dominant in the room. We therefore looked to remove the fireplace and cover that wall with a feature bar, which allowed more space for seating and a more attractive layout in the room.”

THERE ARE A LOT OF ORIGINAL FEATURES SUCH AS THE COVING AND ARCHITRAVE WHICH WERE OBVIOUSLY RETAINED BUT REDECORATED.

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For Michele, it was an interesting space to work with, and she had a clear idea of what needed to be achieved from the new facility: “We needed to take that small space and revitalise it to draw interest from the local community as well as visitors to the island, and drive footfall to the hotel. I saw this as somewhere people could pop in for an aperitif before a meal at JB Parker’s, or somewhere to have a drink on the way home. It also needed to be designed in a way that it would feel welcoming during the day for small business meetings.

“I approached that remit by looking to retain a traditional feel but give it a fresh, modern spin. I wanted to use colours that would make the small room feel cosy but not too dark, and with a similar palette to that used in the lobby so that the spaces feel connected. Texture and lighting was crucial to giving the space the feel we wanted. Fabrics such as leathers and velvets were used to make it feel luxurious but not excessive. The geometric designs on the wall coverings offer a modern spin on traditional florals, while the ceiling has been given a covering which makes it look like hammered aged brass. It adds a real warmth to the room in the evening, and dims the brightness during the day.”

THE GEOMETRIC DESIGNS ON THE WALL COVERINGS OFFER A MODERN SPIN ON TRADITIONAL FLORALS, WHILE THE CEILING HAS BEEN GIVEN A COVERING WHICH MAKES IT LOOK LIKE HAMMERED AGED BRASS. IT ADDS A REAL WARMTH TO THE ROOM IN THE EVENING, AND DIMS THE BRIGHTNESS DURING THE DAY.

Michele and the rest of the team had worked together on previous projects, including the redevelopment of The Oak at Les Rocquettes Hotel. That experience helped when it came to this project, as Tom explained: “With these hospitality projects, the timing is really crucial. It had to happen after Christmas in early January, and it had to progress very quickly. We need to work really closely with the contractor to ensure that dates will be met. That involves planning and ordering in advance so that the facilities will be open on time – but while timing is critical, so is the quality of the work. Rihoy & Son co-operated really well with us for the project to ensure it all progressed smoothly.”

But while it progressed well, it wasn’t without its challenges for those working on site. For Dan’s team, the work needed to be completed while the hotel stayed open during the refurbishment, with guests using the facilities.

“Aside from the fact the hotel was open, it is also a town centre site which means traffic is severely constricted. All deliveries and collections were restricted, and you’re also competing with all the other town traffic,” said Dan. “We liaised closely with the hotel manager to ensure that they knew what we were doing and when to minimise the disruption to the hotel guests.”

For the hotel, it involved creating a new temporary reception on the first floor and maintaining lift access during the work in that area. But with the project finished, and the smart new entrance welcoming guests, the disruption was certainly worth it.

NAMING RIGHTS

The name of the new bar, Jack’s, was a fairly easy one for the hotel to decide on.

JB Parker’s restaurant at Moore’s is named after Jack Buller Parker, owner Karel Harris’ grandfather. He and his wife established Sarnia Hotels in 1956. With the neighbouring restaurant already recognising that heritage, calling the snug “Jack’s” capitalised on that connection.

THE CONTRACTORS

The Drawing Room

Rihoy & Son

Studio Hilton

Henderson Green

Davies Associates

AC Heating

Style Plumbing & Heating Ltd

Sensible Technology

Quantum Cabling Installations

ResolutionIT

CheckOut CI Limited

Smith Signs Ltd

Normandie Health & Safety Ltd

Officepoint (Guernsey) Ltd

GFF Guernsey

G4S

Stainless Steel Fabrications Ltd

Swan Joinery

JWH Decorating & Property Maintenance

Servaclean

Bathroom Emporium Limited

Timber & Damp Proofing Ltd

Interior Systems Ltd

Capelles Building Stores

Granite Le Pelley

Channel Welders

Rob Morellec Upholstery

Firesafe

Access Scaffolding

Bar Fittings Ltd

Two Degrees North

Prestigious RIBA award for the Bathing Pools

DLM Architects has won the RIBA South East Regional Award for the Bathing Pools.

David De La Mare, David Radford & Helen Bonner Morgan (pictured) picked up the prestigious award at a ceremony held at Farnham Castle, Surrey. The Bathing Pools was one of 16 projects that made the shortlist – the judges visited Guernsey in March to see the building and meet the team. They also met a group of swimmers from Guernsey Swim All Seasons who helped showcase the building as a community asset.

The judges praised the project, saying: “Successfully integrating architecture with nature, the design makes a positive impact on both the community and the environment. With a £1.5m construction cost and taking just a year from planning permission to completion, it is a great testament to both architect and client.”

New tenant for Fermain kiosk

The owner of popular Guernsey cafés Coco and Lola has been selected as the preferred bidder to operate the Fermain kiosk.

States Property Unit went out to tender as the current lease is due to expire at the end of October and they wanted to explore the appetite to invest in and develop the kiosk’s offering.

Four bids were received as part of the tender and the panel unanimously agreed that the vision put forward by Pearl Oyster Ltd scored highest. The company’s plan for the area includes introducing new offerings for customers, such as online orders for beach users, creating a new sun lounger area near the café, increased opening times in the summer months, along with the

Managing director of DLM, David De La Mare, said of winning the award: “Winning an RIBA award is something I’ve always dreamt of.

“Recognition amongst some of the biggest names in the industry is testament to the skill and dedication of the entire team, and everyone involved in delivering this incredible project. The real reward has been seeing the impact it has on our community.”

Helen Bonner-Morgan, operations director of Vive La Vallette, added: “Vive La Vallette is proud to have worked with DLM Architects on this RIBA award-winning project, leaving a legacy for future generations. The building promotes community health and togetherness, setting a high standard for architectural impact. We are honoured that this project stood among outstanding buildings up for this prestigious award, showcasing superb quality design.”

potential to host private events. The bid also included substantial investment plans to improve the offering for the community.

A spokesperson for Pearl Oyster Ltd said: “We are delighted our submission has been selected for the Fermain kiosk and are looking forward to the opportunity of taking it on and bringing to the area a new offering that builds not only what we do at Coco and Lola, but also respects the beautiful setting of the kiosk and the bay. Fermain is a picturesque location loved by many islanders and visitors alike, and represents an exciting opportunity for us to deliver a fantastic service to the community.”

Mark Ogier, director of estates, States Property Unit, said: “The applicant is a well-established and successful operator, with an excellent reputation and significant following at their other outlets, and their plans for the Fermain kiosk gave a clear vision for continued development, with the customer being the constant focus. The result of the tender shows there is room for further development and growth to maximise this unique and sought-after location.”

New architect at Lovell Ozanne

Lovell Ozanne has welcomed chartered architect and certified passive house designer Christelle Tippett to its growing team.

Christelle qualified as an architect in 2016 after studying at the University of Portsmouth, Oxford Brookes University, and then completing her Part 3 at the University of Bath. She started her architecture journey as an architectural technologist, studying for a BTEC National Certificate in Construction at the College of Further Education in Guernsey.

She returns to Guernsey after 12 years in Oxford. During that time, she has worked for a well-established practice on a range of projects, primarily on private houses

Emerging talent nomination for JGA

JGA is celebrating the shortlisting of Dan Tibbs for a national architectural technology award.

Competing against technologists from across the UK, Dan has been shortlisted for CIAT’s aspiration award for emerging talent in architectural technology.

Dan joined JGA as an apprentice in 2017 and his impressive development has seen him become an integral part of the design and technical team. He completed his

and high-end developer projects. She has a passion for design, commitment to architecture, and a constant desire to learn and push for progress and positive change in the industry.

Christelle has also run the RIBA Women in Architecture group since 2020, and in 2022 returned to Oxford Brookes University as an associate lecturer for the Part 1 Architecture degree course. Her Unit F studio focuses on sustainably and plant-based materials, complementing her certified passive house designer qualification.

construction and the built environment apprenticeship, and received apprentice of the year in 2020. Following that, he gained his chartered status (MCIAT) in 2002 through CIAT.

Managing director of JGA, James Gavey, said: “Dan strives to excel in all areas, however he has a natural ability in the technologist space and excels in technical design. We’re very proud of this achievement, and we’re excited to support him at the AT awards in London in October.”

DPA asks islanders for brownfield site suggestions

The Development & Planning Authority (DPA) has issued a call for sites, specifically brownfield sites, as part of the focused review of the Island Development Plan (IDP).

Deputy Victoria Oliver, president of the DPA, said: “We are currently reviewing all brownfield sites that have already been suggested and where appropriate are challenging their availability for inclusion within the IDP. Feedback that we have received strongly suggests that there are further such sites for us to consider. Therefore, to support the review, the authority is issuing this invitation for islanders to submit their suggestions.”

This call for sites is an important opportunity for residents, landowners and organisations to suggest brownfield land that is available and suitable for development in the next five years to meet the island’s housing needs. This would

predominantly be for affordable housing with a proportion of private market housing also possible.

If islanders have already submitted sites in response to the initial Call for Sites consultation in 2023, they do not need to resubmit.

Brownfield sites should be capable of delivering five or more dwellings and should be a minimum size of 0.25 acres (0.1 hectares or 0.6 vergée).

DLM expands team

DLM has added RIBA chartered architect David Sherwill Zopf to its team.

David graduated with a BA in Architecture with honours from London South Bank

University in 2013. He then returned to Guernsey and worked extensively in the private residential sector in the UK and across the Channel Islands. In 2021, he graduated from Oxford Brooks University with an Advanced Diploma in Architecture, and in 2022, he qualified as a chartered architect.

Since 2022, David has been a personal tutor and design examiner for the Royal Institute of British Architects. He is committed to enhancing architectural education in Guernsey and plays an active role in mentoring the next generation of architects. David joins DLM as a project architect.

David said: “Joining DLM is an opportunity for me to collaborate with talented individuals

Educational attainments at Ravenscroft

James Ravenscroft (left) and Sam Dawes (right) have both recently gained a bachelor’s degree in quantity surveying from the University College of Estate Management. The degree spanned three years of study on top of their full-time roles at Ravenscroft as quantity surveyors.

Charity trip for Rihoys

James joined the company in 2017 as a trainee quantity surveyor and has proved to be an asset to the commercial team, most recently as the project surveyor on the new Queen’s Road Medical Practice. Sam started at Ravenscroft in 2013 fresh out of school and has equally grown to become an invaluable member of the team. Having worked at the firm for more than 11 years, Sam says he has learned a lot along the way. He said: “Sitting here now as a fully qualified quantity surveyor, I’m extremely proud of what I have achieved and I’m hugely thankful to Ravenscroft for their support in enabling me to get this qualification.”

and contribute to the ongoing creation of innovative, influential, and impactful architectural designs that leave a lasting legacy.”

Managing director of DLM, David De La Mare, said: “We are delighted David has joined the team. He shares our collective passion for design and attention to detail, as well as our name! Our belief at DLM is that good design adds value to every project, regardless of size or complexity, and it is important our whole team share this passion. David’s contemporary yet historically sensitive approach has seen him collaborate on award-winning architectural projects in Guernsey and overseas, and we are excited to have him on board.”

Both James and Sam gained their degree through Ravenscroft’s ‘earn while you learn’ trainee quantity surveyor scheme, a programme that is offered to school leavers and graduates looking to begin their career in surveying.

James added: “I didn’t go to university when I left school as I wanted to get stuck into the world of work, but when I realised I could still get a degree whilst working at the same time, it seemed like a no brainer - though I have to confess I did, at times, question my decision whilst in the depths of writing my dissertation!”

The trip was organised as part of his role as trustee of the E J Rihoy Charitable Trust. Established in 1998, its objective is to improve livelihoods and increase opportunities in some of the worlds most impoverished communities.

To date projects have primarily focused on education, health, and environment, including construction of multiple schools, orphanages, community centres, and maternity facilities. Many of these have been joint projects with the Commission.

While in Kenya, Dan met with Trust chair, Dr Liz Rihoy, and treasurer, Patricia Wangui. He said: “This visit was a great opportunity to witness firsthand the impact of several projects the Trust has supported over the years, and was incredibly rewarding and informative. Working with local institutions means the ongoing management of these projects is strengthened to ensure sustainability.”

Rihoy & Son managing director, Dan Taylor, recently travelled to Kenya with members of the Guernsey Overseas Aid & Development Commission.

New managing director at Firesafe

Passive fire protection contractor, Firesafe, has promoted Mark Firth to the role of managing director.

DPA

Following a career with notable PLCs such as McNicholas Construction and Siemens, Mark relocated to Guernsey in 2020 where he joined Rihoy & Son as MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) manager. Recognising the need for quality passive fire protection, Mark helped set up Firesafe, where he has played a key role in expanding the business and its team under the Rihoy & Son umbrella.

The announcement comes following Firesafe achieving updated FIRAS certification in cavity barriers and penetration sealing, and certification in fire door maintenance, dry lined partition systems, and fire door installation. This accomplishment sets Firesafe as the

approves St Peter’s Community Plan

The Development & Planning Authority (DPA) has approved the resident-led St Peter’s community plan as supplementary planning guidance.

The community plan is the first to be created and approved in Guernsey, and is a document

which sets out how those who live, work and spend time in the area would like to see their local area change in the future.

Although approving this plan doesn’t provide planning permission for the proposals, it is taken into account by the DPA when assessing applications for development within the area and also helps developers understand the types of development which will be supported by the local community.

The plan, which was drawn up following consultation with parishioners, contains 16 proposals for retail, traffic, community uses and housing.

Octopus rebuild confirmed

The owners of Octopus restaurant in St Peter Port, which burned down in a fire in February this year, have confirmed that plans for the rebuild are progressing.

The remnants of the damaged building were demolished over the summer, with the site now cleared for the future rebuild.

most third-party accredited passive fire protection business in the Channel Islands.

As managing director, Mark will oversee the delivery and development of comprehensive passive fire protection systems and solutions for a wide range of clients across the Channel Islands.

Dan Taylor, managing director of Rihoy & Son and director of Firesafe, commented: “Mark’s industry expertise and energy has developed Firesafe from a start-up business to a leading specialist contractor on the island, and his new role sets the foundation to further grow Firesafe within Guernsey and the Channel Islands.”

Tony Talmage, St Peter’s resident and chair of the independent community plan committee, said: “This is a great day for St Peter’s. The community plan represents the collective voice of our parish and ensures that future development is guided by the values and needs of those who live here.”

Deputy Victoria Oliver, president of the Development & Planning Authority, said:

“It’s brilliant to see residents come forward with a vision of what they would like their community to be. It’s a thorough and community-led addition which will make a worthwhile contribution to the way St Peter’s is planned and developed in the future.”

Local architect, DLM, is working on the plans for the new building – with Infinity Construction also involved in the development.

The team at Octopus say they’ll keep islanders updated with progress, but that they want to make the new building even better than its predecessor.

Clarence Battery steps open

The steps from La Vallette to Clarence Battery have been reopened following the completion of extensive works to stabilise the rock faces and reinstate the steps.

The completion of these works restores the link between Town and Guernsey’s east and south coastal cliff paths.

The works have provided an opportunity to improve the accessibility of the steps with clear edges and level surfaces, while generally maintaining the same style. The new steps follow the same line as the previous ones, with some of these retained.

Given that issues with drainage were thought to be a contributing factor to the original landslip, the restored steps now have an improved drainage system in place which is largely concealed in the ground underneath the steps.

Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, president of the Committee for the Environment & Infrastructure, said: “The Committee

Islanders asked for views on harbours

Islanders are being asked to share their views on a draft Local Planning Brief (LPB) for the St Peter Port and St Sampson Harbour Action Areas.

The draft LPB, which has been prepared by Tibbalds Planning and Urban Design with input from key stakeholders, including the Guernsey Development Agency and islanders, identifies opportunities for change and enhancement of the Harbour Action Areas and will facilitate and encourage coordinated development to come forward along the east coast.

The draft LPB intentionally does not prescribe specific developments on specific sites, but adds detail to the Island Development Plan,

DPA to respond to IDP comments in 2025

The Development & Planning Authority (DPA) says that following the significant and contrasting views raised on the Island Development Plan (IDP) Review, they will meet with key stakeholders and carry out further analysis. They then plan to provide the independent planning inspector with its responses to the initial representations in January next year.

Any changes to what was originally proposed by the DPA will be published as part of its responses to the initial representations. If there are significant changes, the inspector says this could mean the initial representations stage in relation to these areas of change would need to be re-run. This could potentially include any changes to site allocations for housing.

Following any potential re-run of the initial representations stage, there would be an opportunity for islanders to make further representations on the two phases of initial representations received, and it would be the newly constituted DPA who would respond to these further representations after the general election.

completes routine infrastructure maintenance projects on a weekly basis to restore our coastal defences, roads and other features, but this project is anything but routine. We really are delighted to be able to complete this major project and reopen these steps, which I’m sure will be welcomed by islanders and visitors alike.

“While some will have seen seven months of visible works on site, this was really the culmination of an intricate and detailed project to make the area safe and get these steps back in action following the landslip.”

ensuring that the right type of change and development comes forward and that the relevant associated issues are considered.

Islanders will have a number of opportunities to share their views before a public hearing on the draft LPB in December. Following the hearing, the draft LPB will then be presented to the States in April 2025. If approved, it will become a formal amendment to the Island Development Plan and provide a policy framework to guide and shape development over the next decade.

The Inspector, Keith Holland, said: “I remain committed to ensuring that islanders have the fullest opportunity to engage in any further, significant amendments that are published. Accordingly, I have advised the DPA that any further work needs to be presented in a format such that it can be readily understood by a wide audience. Similarly, whilst respecting the legal requirements, I shall be working with the Planning Inquiry team to see how we can simplify the process for making representations.”

States property access audit

Ahead of the need for the public sector to produce accessibility action plans in 2028, States Property Unit has commenced a programme of access audits.

The access audits cover areas of buildings used by customers, services users or pupils when accessing States of Guernsey services along with all staff areas for larger staff hub buildings.

There are approximately 80 premises included in the programme covering the full range of public services provided by States of Guernsey such as schools, health and care settings, leisure facilities, museums, and public toilets.

Mark Ogier, director of estates, States Property Unit said: “We are starting this work early in recognition of our duty to lead the way in ensuring that requirements are met following the implementation of the Prevention of Discrimination Ordinance in October last year.

“These audits are essential to identify short, medium, and long term recommendations that will inform decisions around the prioritisation, planning and funding of improvement works.”

The programme will continue for the rest of the year and throughout 2025.

SYCAMORE AVENUE

Winner of the best multi-residential project at this year’s Guernsey Property and Construction Awards, the completion of St Sampson’s development Sycamore Avenue has added some much-needed units to the island’s housing stock within a conservation area.

But with the Sycamore Avenue properties complete, there is still exciting work ongoing at the site.

THESE PROPERTIES NEED TO BE VERY FUNCTIONAL BUT ALSO BE BUILT TO A VERY GOOD LEVEL, WHICH IS WHERE WE EXCEL. THESE ARE LOW MAINTENANCE PROPERTIES WITH A HIGH SPECIFICATION DESIGN AND FINISH.

Sycamore Avenue is a modern development of 13 mews-style houses. Situated in the grounds of the listed Les Bas Courtils house, and on the site of its former orchard, the new properties comprise four two-bedroom and nine three-bedroom dwellings, all sympathetically designed to complement the neighbouring house.

James Gavey of JG Architecture was responsible for the design, which he said was carefully considered to sit within its context: “These are very modern houses, but which also reflect the heritage of the site. This was done in a number of important ways –ranging from the obvious to the more subtle. We assessed the fenestration of Les Bas Courtils to echo the proportions in the window openings and match the style of the guarding on the new Juliet balconies and surrounding the new site planters.”

But while the houses reflect the site’s heritage, they are also very much of their time. Black framed windows provide a subtle contrast to the elevation finish, which is rendered and part faced in reclaimed-style brick tiles. Modern features and materials such as flat roof canopies over entrances and ‘box’ style flat roof dormer windows finished in dark Alkor provide additional visual emphasis to each elevation.

Developer Infinity Construction is responsible for the build. Director Andy Stuart said Sycamore Avenue is the type of development the firm’s experience lends itself to: “We have a real understanding of this type of project, as we have completed a number of similar developments throughout the island. We have a solid blueprint in terms of our design and detailing, and what we want to achieve from the space available. These properties need to be very functional but also be built to a very good level, which is where we excel. These are low maintenance properties with a high specification design and finish.

“This site was fairly straightforward. It was an open area of land when we started work, so there were no issues with demolishing previous buildings. We did need to address the different levels on the site as it slopes towards the seafront. We therefore reduced the gradient, and dealt with drainage while we were introducing all the new services to the properties.”

The Sycamore Avenue build took around two years including work on the entrance to the site, with the build programme for the houses scheduled for 20 months. With nothing too technically difficult for the team, and even the weather playing its part, the project went to plan with the houses completed earlier this year.

FOR THOSE LIVING IN THEM, THEY CAN NOW BENEFIT FROM LOW MAINTENANCE, ENERGY EFFICIENT HOMES. THE HIGH THERMAL VALUE OF THE BUILDS AND USE OF SURROUNDING LANDSCAPING MEANS THEY SHOULD NOT ONLY BE PLEASANT AND COST-EFFECTIVE TO LIVE IN, BUT HAVE A REDUCED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.

For those living in them, they can now benefit from low maintenance, energy efficient homes. The high thermal value of the builds and use of surrounding landscaping means they should not only be pleasant and cost-effective to live in, but have a reduced environmental impact.

James explained that the environment played a significant part in the approach to the development: “From an environmental sustainability point of view, we’ve taken a number of measures. There is a facility for charging electric cars at each property to reflect the growing desire for motorists to move away from fossil fuels. We’ve also got communal and private secure bike storage around the development to encourage residents to look at alternative modes of transport. We introduced bird and bat boxes to the area during the build, and have also used specific planting within the site to help minimise any negative environmental impacts.”

The re-use of materials has also been an important factor. The build included demolishing an original granite central site wall. That granite has been reused to form low granite walls through the development, with rendered copings supporting iron railings. Not only does it reuse the material from the site, it references the design of the approach to Les Bas Courtils house itself –tying the old into the new.

With their landscaped private gardens, communal areas and allocated parking spaces, the new houses may well suit young families. But the design has been carefully considered to suit those at all stages of their life, as James explained: “The planning system now requires us to focus on flexible design, so it’s a key consideration when looking at new

TREE PROTECTION

The name of the development clearly derives from the two large sycamore trees that are a significant feature of the site. The trees are to the south of the site, near to the roadside, and needed to be protected during any development.

James explained how that was approached: “We consulted with arboriculturist Andy McCutcheon at States of Guernsey Parks and Gardens regarding the site and how to address the protected trees. We wanted to construct a new vehicular access road between the two trees, but needed to be very careful when doing so.

“We therefore calculated the root protection areas of the two listed trees as part of the impact assessment to ensure that there was no impact on them.”

Elsewhere on the site, landscaping has also played a key role. As part of a passive sustainable design, tree planting acts as shading on hot days to reduce the solar gain inside the properties. The use of deciduous trees such as silver birch and field maple also assists in this process, along with allowing solar gain through the loss of their leaves during the winter months.

properties. We want the houses we design to meet the changing needs and lifestyle requirements of its occupants over time. These properties can certainly do that. All of the dwellings are fully accessible by level threshold entry and have access to a ground floor washroom suitable for people with any level of ability.

“Additionally, there is potential to extend the ground floor area at the rear to provide additional accommodation for living space, thereby allowing existing rooms to change use or be adapted through timber studwork partitions. We have also highlighted potential positions for introducing a lift if necessary. These are homes that could suit people at all ages and stages.”

With almost all of the properties now sold, the new owners are enjoying settling into their new homes. But the completion of Sycamore Avenue isn’t the end of the story for the site.

WE WANT THE HOUSES WE DESIGN TO MEET THE CHANGING NEEDS AND LIFESTYLE REQUIREMENTS OF ITS OCCUPANTS OVER TIME. THESE PROPERTIES CAN CERTAINLY DO THAT.

THE NEXT STAGE FOR THE SITE

With Sycamore Avenue complete, attention is now focused on the final stage of the project – the renovation of the original listed property, and the addition of adjacent new units.

The house itself is being turned into five individual apartments, while the original barn will also become a home. Additionally, four new build properties will mean that there will be 10 units of accommodation in that area of the development. The local market units range from a one-bedroom apartment to two-bedroom modern houses, with all properties benefiting from an allocated parking space.

Andy says work is progressing well, and he’s enjoyed dealing with a more unusual project: “The four new builds are very straightforward for us, with the only aspect to throw up any potential issues the topography of the site and its different levels, which we needed to deal with before starting the construction. The two listed buildings of the main house and barn are a different matter though. The barn was virtually derelict when we started work. As a firm, we don’t often deal with things like quirky granite barn conversions, so that’s been very interesting and the work is now going well.

“The main house has been a huge challenge, from working with heritage and planning to maintaining the structural integrity of the property while working on it. It had been empty for decades and

had become very rotten inside. We’ve therefore had to do a lot of temporary works to maintain the structure while altering and repairing what we needed to. It’s a completely different approach to the set process of erecting a new build and has thrown up a huge amount of unexpected issues. But it’s been a really interesting project and I’ve enjoyed finding solutions to ensure the house is preserved for the future.”

For JGA, working on the main building has also been a fascinating process, according to James: “Its listing makes it a more complex project but it’s certainly been an interesting one to work on. The building had deteriorated significantly when we first looked at it – the timbers were decayed and there was a lot of rising damp. We’re glad that the planners have allowed us to replace the existing joinery on a like for like basis, as the original timbers were in such poor condition. Additionally, it has been agreed to use a lime render on the property rather than the sand and cement that it previously had. Lime is a more traditional material to use on this type of property so will look more in keeping with its period, and will also allow its solid walls to breathe which is far better for the fabric of the house.”

With work progressing well on the renovation of the original house and barn, and the construction of the new build properties, that part of the development is currently expected to be completed in January 2025.

BUT IT’S BEEN A REALLY INTERESTING PROJECT AND I’VE ENJOYED FINDING SOLUTIONS TO ENSURE THE HOUSE IS PRESERVED FOR THE FUTURE.

THE CONTRACTORS

Developer: Infinity Group

JG Architecture

CBL Consulting

Cucine Zero Nine

Sarnian Roofing

Window Service Centre

Surface Fixer Guernsey

DWA

Ecoscreed

Geomarine

Island Electrics

Regnard Specialist

Decorating Services

M R Brouard Carpentry

Guernsey Blocklaying and Plastering

West Coast Joinery

Stainless Steel

Fabrications

Guernsey Metal Roofing

Looking for a sleek, modern metal roof?

GMR have you covered, our team specialise in installing full metal standing seam roofs, ensuring a slick, modern finish to your project. However, even if you have a slate or tiled roof, GMR can still transform your building’s exterior with the addition of a Zinc clad dormer, fascias or soffits to add a sustainable and unique aesthetic to your project. Available in various different colours and finishes get in touch today to see how we can help transform your build. In today’s ever changing world sustainability is paramount and zinc, a key material in the building industry is 100% recyclable positioning it as a front runner in eco friendly building practices. Other services include: Fully approved Fatra single ply membrane installers. Bespoke hard metal flashings. Aluminum copings, fascias and soffit fabrication.

For further information contact:

Craig Gavey

07781 426622 or craig@gsymetalroofing.com www.gsymetalroofing.com

MORE TO ZINC THAN MEETS THE EYE

THE GUERNSEY PROPERTY AND CONSTRUCTION AWARDS 2024

This year’s Guernsey Property and Construction Awards recently took place at St Pierre Park, recognising those who have made a stand-out contribution to the built environment of the island. The awards ceremony was celebrating its milestone tenth year in 2024. Nine winners were announced on the evening – ranging from the rising star of the industry to a lifetime achievement award for David Duquemin of CA Duquemin Ltd.

A nomination period over the summer had seen the entrants whittled down to the nine eventual winners by an independent five-person judging panel. All winners received locally crafted bespoke trophies to commemorate their achievement.

Organiser Karen Solway said: “The Awards shine a spotlight on excellence, best practices, and innovation within Guernsey’s

property and construction sectors, emphasising their vital role in today’s business landscape. The diverse range of award categories acknowledges the most significant activities across the industry spectrum, welcoming public nominations from both the private and public sectors.

“The Awards provide an invaluable platform for employees to gain recognition for their hard work and contributions. They also offer companies and organisations the chance to showcase their success stories and demonstrate how they are excelling in their respective fields.

“During the judging process, the judges noted the exceptionally high standard of nominations, which made the selection of winners a challenging task. This just highlights the remarkable efforts of the construction industry in Guernsey.”

Photography by www.solwayphotography.co.uk

I’D LIKE TO EXTEND MY HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL NOMINEES, ESPECIALLY THE WINNERS.”

THE WINNERS WERE...

RISING STAR

Winner: Chris Croft

Concept 360

INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR

Winner: Jez Thomas Meervelds

INTERNAL DOMESTIC PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Winner: Murata StudiO

INTERNAL COMMERCIAL PROJECT OF THE YEAR

Winner: Moores Hotel The Drawing Room

INDUSTRY SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR Winner: Bonsai

BEST SINGLE RESIDENTIAL PROJECT

Winner: Old Shoemakers House A7

DATE FOR YOUR DIARY - 2025 AWARDS DATE ANNOUNCED Organisation has already started for next year’s Property and Construction Awards, which will be held on Friday 26 September 2025. Keep an eye out next year for further information regarding table bookings – and of course the all-important nomination and entry process.

BEST MULTI-RESIDENTIAL PROJECT

Winner: Sycamore Avenue

BEST LARGE PROJECT

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Winner: David Duquemin

Winner: Jethou Chapel

Matt De Garis

JGA

CA Duquemin

Title Sponsor

ARGYLL HOUSE

This carefully designed house has seen a small post-war bungalow transformed into a spacious family home. Unrecognisable from its former appearance, the house has still been heavily influenced by its predecessor – taking advantage of the environmental benefits of repurposing the building. Now the outdated bungalow has been transformed into a light, airy and very modern home – with bespoke touches throughout to meet the needs of its owners.

When Tom Bourgaize, director at The Drawing Room, first looked at the property it was 154 sq.m., with little to recommend it aesthetically. It’s now increased in size to 259 sq.m. and bears virtually no resemblance to the house that came before. But within the new structure lies the old. Tom explained why he and his clients looked to retain the former bungalow when it came to developing the house.

“It was always the strategy to keep the existing bungalow – that was the brief I had from the clients, and it’s something we encourage as a firm. The house was well positioned on the site, and was actually built quite well. We therefore designed the property keeping the four original walls but taking off the roof to go up a storey and extending it out at one side. We’ve managed to reuse the old building but disguise it fairly well as a new build property.”

By extending up and out, Tom managed to fit in all of his clients’ wish list items. Come in the front door and the house now has two downstairs bedrooms, one with ensuite bathroom. Continue through to the living space and past the bespoke feature staircase and the house opens up, with copious amounts of glazing to the rear of the property. A large modern kitchen has

also been installed on the ground floor, together with a utility room and an extensive home gym.

Upstairs the master bedroom enjoys a large picture window that makes the most of the west coast views, as does the ‘sunset lounge’, a gallery space connected to the downstairs living room with a double storey window. A final bedroom completes the clients’ brief for a four-bedroom house that they would enjoy every inch of.

The house’s west coast location was an important part of its appeal for the owners, and it was one Tom was tasked with taking full advantage of.

“These days, we always complete a sun study on a house while we are working on the design. We can model the building virtually and then the software allows us to look at where the sun is at different times of the day. For this house, we kept the feeling of privacy while still maximising natural light by using lots of roof lights to the west where there was a neighbouring property. The house’s views are directed to the northwest where they are unconstricted.

“That thought process also influenced our approach to the outside spaces. The property has a south facing frontage,

so we designed the garden with patios that are connected to the house but at a distance from it to ensure they are not too overshadowed during the day. But those issues seem fairly unimportant when you consider the wonderful sunset views the house enjoys.”

The design of the house has been carefully thought through by the owners, who were clear as to how they wanted to use the space. The gym, for example, was a fundamental part of the project, as Tom explained.

“The space in the extension was originally assigned to be a garage as well as a home gym, but the clients decided that having a large gym space was a priority. This is a house in which the gym is very well used and they were very clear what they wanted to do with the space. They are able to open the doors and exercise outside in fine weather, and they were also adamant they needed plenty of head room. During the project, they decided they would be very keen to have an indoor climbing wall, so we cut out some of the floor behind the wall in the upstairs bathroom to give them the height to do that. It was an unusual request, and the first time the contractor had put a climbing wall in a private house, but it highlights how bespoke the house was to their lifestyle.”

That contractor was F Watson Ltd, who were delighted to work on the redevelopment of the property. For Laurence Watson, it helped having a good team on the project: “It was a project team we were very familiar with – The Drawing Room, CBL, Henderson Green – which always helps during challenging times. As a firm, we really enjoy doing high end residential work with interesting buildings.”

While the 18-month project wasn’t affected by Covid lockdowns, it was still impacted by the ensuing supply chain issues. For Laurence, the success of the project hinged on early organisation and order of materials: “The supply chain was still in recovery so we had to buy things earlier than we usually would have done, and line up our subcontractors earlier than we would normally expect. At the same time, supply costs were spiralling so we wanted to place orders early to avoid further price increases. The clients had a budget that we needed to stick to.”

The use of natural materials was a key design feature – with slate, stone, timber cladding and reclaimed granite all heavily utilised. For Laurence, those materials were a real success: “We had an excellent stonemason work on the property, and the owner even had a go at some of the granite work, which has worked really well as a nod to more traditional Guernsey buildings. The design’s use of a lightweight timber frame also meant that we could use the original slab of the cottage rather than pour new concrete foundations.”

CREATING A HOME

For the owners of Argyll House, the development has been a real passion project. While they bought the property itself four years ago, they had been planning their forever home for much longer than that. With the couple closely involved in every aspect of the design, they’ve now created a house they hope will last them a lifetime.

“We bought the property in October 2020. Location was really important to us, and we wanted something with a bit of land so that we could grow on it, keep chickens, pigs … basically live the good life. We lived in the property for 18 months before starting the works. At the time, the property was single blockwork and there was no central heating. We couldn’t really believe the house we were living in was ever going to look like the drawings.

“We have been building a “dream home” in our minds for years, walking the cliff paths and really thinking about how we wanted to live. Our brief to Tom was that we wanted a family home, with four bedrooms (with one doubling as a dedicated home working space), something that maximised the view, and a large gym space where we could lift weights overhead.

“We wanted sturdy and natural materials such as granite, stone, and wood. We also explained that we wanted each room to work hard, so that we’d use

every bit of the house. We’re lucky that Tom is a very good friend and knows us well, so he designed every aspect of the house around us. He thought of things we didn’t and we always felt that the whole team at The Drawing Room were involved in the project, making recommendations and tweaks that were practical and thoughtful.

“Tom project managed the build for us, proactively solving issues before they became problems. It meant we could enjoy the build process. I wouldn’t say it was “fun”, but it was (mostly) enjoyable! We always felt we were in safe hands with Laurie at F Watson. He held our hands through the project and gave us various options to save costs, whilst being mindful to the spec we wanted to achieve. He has a fantastic team, who have an eye for detail, and also access to very talented subcontractors. The granite work in particular is one of our favourite parts of the house.

“Internally, Platinum Interiors designed us a stylish, practical and hardworking kitchen and boot room, and Sensible helped and suggested features and lighting that turn the building into a home. We also have the team at Pauls Joinery to thank for the staircase, which is one of our favourite bits of craftsmanship in the house.

“We pinch ourselves that this is where we live. It’s a home that has been designed by us, for us. And that’s really special.”

While the owners were given planning permission to extend the curtilage of the house into the field they owned behind the property, the main increase in the size of the house came with the added roof space. The eaves on the new roof are much higher than the old, allowing for significantly more usable space. The old building and new extension are linked with a flat roof in the middle, which is hidden from the road but can be seen from the back of the house.

Along with the focus on environmental sustainability with reusing the old bungalow, the house has been designed to be as energy efficient as possible – exceeding the new build regulations. The old bungalow has been wrapped with insulation and then clad on top, while the house benefits from direct electric heating and very low energy usage. There are also future plans for solar panels on the flat roof.

In one final benefit to the environment, The Drawing Room has a client scheme whereby they provide wildlife features that can be incorporated into people’s homes. For Argyll House, they donated a bee brick, bat box and bird box, which have been sympathetically incorporated to the property. So the owners aren’t the only ones enjoying the redevelopment of this lovely west coast home.

THE CONTRACTORS

The Drawing Room

F Watson & Son

CBL Engineers

Henderson Green Guernsey

Platinum Interiors

Neville Johnson

Luxioso bathrooms

Style Plumbing

EIG electricians

Sensible Technology

Island Interiors

Sarah Froome Photography

Oakwrights

Pauls Joinery

Paul Langmead Windows

DWA Flooring

Stainless Steel Fabrications

WHITE STAR CAPITAL

When White Star Capital decided it was time to move office – they knew they not only wanted to expand their space, but improve every aspect of their working environment. The new office space was carefully designed to reflect the firm’s culture and ethos from the moment you step inside the doors.

White Star Capital’s Guernsey office has stunning views over St Peter Port and the neighbouring islands, but the inside space has made that panorama somewhat of a supporting player. The real star is the carefully considered design – blending function with a touch of fun to produce an office interior that reflects the firm’s approach.

For White Star Guernsey partner and chief financial officer, Tony Corbin, the Lefebvre Court office was a clear winner as soon as he saw it: “We had outgrown our previous

office and we were very keen to move, but it was actually quite difficult to find a space that was a suitable size. We wanted to stay in the centre of St Peter Port and it was also a priority to have all of our staff on the same floor sharing the same space.

“We had looked at quite a few premises, but when we came in here our decision was clear. Not only did it feel like a quality commercial building as soon as you stepped inside the foyer, but the abundant natural light and the view meant that we knew it would work for us.”

But while the size and location were perfect, the fit-out wasn’t. For Tony, having a well-designed space was a priority: “We always knew that moving would require a significant investment in our office space. We wanted something unique, modern, and dynamic—something that would truly reflect our identity as a forward-thinking technology investment firm. With a young workforce, it was important to create an environment that resonates with their energy and innovation.”

“We had started discussions with POS Interiors before we even found this space. They had a very clear idea of what we wanted, and we were sure they could deliver that for us.”

For POS’s managing director, Rory Inglis, it was a chance to showcase what his firm could do: “When we first came on site, the office had been recently refurbished by the landlord to a basic Cat A specification. There was grey carpet, white ceiling panels and basic light fittings. It was the polar opposite of the design-led space that White Star wanted. We therefore drew up some initial concept plans with costings that gave them the confidence to proceed with the lease negotiation.”

Once that was confirmed, the real work could start. For Rory, it was exactly the sort of project he could enjoy getting his teeth into: “White Star were great clients and we had a lot of fun working with the team. They wanted to push the boundaries in terms of design and creativity, and that’s always something we’re happy to do. Every office space we work with has to function very well, but when we’re able to bring in some more compelling design to the brief, that makes it a really satisfying project.”

POS therefore worked closely with White Star to understand exactly what they needed from the space. The idea of a fully open plan office was dismissed in favour of having three private offices for the senior members of the team. However, these were designed to be easily opened up when necessary to allow for co-operative working. A highly technical boardroom was also a priority to ensure the technology supported regular meetings with White Star’s global team.

A full kitchen and breakout space was also included in the design, to ensure that all White Star employees had those facilities at their disposal and encourage them to take regular and sociable breaks.

For Tony, ensuring the office was somewhere his staff wanted to be was a priority: “We really tried to listen to what our staff told us they wanted. Our desks are a perfect example. We had only been in our previous office for a few years so we had fairly new desks that we initially planned to reuse. But all the feedback we had from staff was that they wanted sit-stand desks. They were a significant expense but we worked closely with POS to source them and ensure that our employees were happy with their set-ups.”

WE ALWAYS KNEW THAT MOVING WOULD REQUIRE A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT IN OUR OFFICE SPACE. WE WANTED SOMETHING UNIQUE, MODERN, AND DYNAMIC—SOMETHING THAT WOULD TRULY REFLECT OUR IDENTITY AS A FORWARD-THINKING TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT FIRM.

As for the old desks, and indeed the removal of the existing office fit-out, sustainability was a priority during the project for both White Star and POS. For Rory, it’s not unusual to remove a landlord’s newly installed fittings: “We work really hard to rehome as many of the fittings as we can to make the process as sustainable as possible. In this project we also reused furniture from their previous office and used as many recycled materials as we could. We want the final product to be as good as possible, with as little negative environmental impact as we can manage.”

With the layout finalised, the office design itself offered plenty of opportunity to make an impact. A standout feature is the exposed duct ceiling, spray-painted in White Star’s dark blue branding. It involved significant expense but was something Tony was clear he wanted from the start. Elsewhere the colour scheme is reflected in the walls, furniture and branding. It may be dark, but the abundance of natural light ensures the space feels anything but oppressive, while the liberal use of plants throughout the office and kitchen also add to the environment.

The White Star team settled into the office earlier this year following a 16week construction period. For Rory, it was certainly a successful project: “We love a project like this where we can push the boundaries. But despite doing so, the work itself went fairly smoothly. Exposing ceilings in the way we did will always involve a certain amount of work and highlight some issues, but they were all resolved fairly easily. We have an excellent relationship with our subcontractors, and they were all very invested in this as a high-quality design that they could take pride in working on.”

While the contractors took pride in working on it, White Star certainly feels the same about using it. For Tony, the move has meant far more than just a new address for the firm: “We are a growing, exciting firm so we wanted something really unique and different. We have been around for a decade but we are now introducing our brand into Guernsey more and this is exactly how we want to project ourselves. We are proud of our brand, and now we’re very proud of our offices as well.”

WE ARE A GROWING, EXCITING FIRM SO WE WANTED SOMETHING REALLY UNIQUE AND DIFFERENT.

SOUND IT OUT

Aside from the aesthetics, the acoustics is one of the first things of note as you enter the White Star office. Unusually for an office space, there is background music playing through a Sonos system installed as part of the new fit-out.

For Rory, the sound is a key part of the design: “People underestimate how important managing the noise level is in an office space. We always try to design with our ears as well as our eyes. With the exposed ceiling, it was necessary to think of ways to reduce the sound level in the main area. We have therefore used high grade acoustic panels along with the background music. Incorporating a Sonos system in a smaller office such as this works really well as you can mask the office noises by raising the background sound.”

Now the only difficulty for White Star is deciding who has control of the playlist.

THE CONTRACTORS

POS Interiors

Viàge

Centre Line Consulting

Dorey, Lyle & Ashman Ltd

Phase Mechanical & Electrical

Omega Group

JWH Decorating

Watson Flooring

J Dorey Installations

Stainless Steel Fabrications

Graham Scott & Co

Guaranteed Additional Load Acceptances

Guernsey Electricity will guarantee to accept all Additional Load Applications for ‘Off-Peak Storage Heating’ solutions up to 18kW*

What does this mean?

To help those who want to convert to electric heating, we’ve recently implemented a policy where any additional load application for storage heating, or other off-peak heating solutions, up to 18kW* will always be accepted onto the network.

Electric boilers and other electric heating solutions demand electricity from the grid during ‘peak’ times, which is when the grid must work at full capacity to provide power. This means there can sometimes be cases where additional load applications are refused because there simply isn’t enough capacity in that area of the network to power electric heating during peak times.

“However, during overnight off-peak periods, there is far more capacity available for everyone”

This supports island-wide load management and grid demand which is an essential step to help more people have access to electric heating and allowing you to install more heating systems.

How do Additional Load Applications work?

All electricity grids have a finite capacity and must be developed continually to keep up with the increasing demand for electricity.

The purpose of an Additional Load Application is for the installer to apply for how much load the property in question will need during a normal day. This may include installing a proposed electric heating solution based on the property’s established heat loss. GEL reviews the applications to determine if there is sufficient capacity for the appliedfor load.

“IF THERE IS INSUFFICIENT ‘PEAK CAPACITY’ FOR THE HEATING SYSTEM DURING THE BUSIEST TIME OF DAY ON THE COLDEST DAY OF THE YEAR, UNFORTUNATELY THE APPLICATION MUST BE DECLINED.”

*Where the electricity load is controlled by Guernsey Electricity.

However, during off-peak periods, this is very different story as the network is in far less demand.

What do you need to do?

If your customer wants to switch to electric heating, you’ll need to:

• perform a material heat loss calculation of the property to determine their specific heating needs, then;

• submit an Additional Load Application to Guernsey Electricity.

Provided the application is for for an ‘OffPeak Heating’ system with a controlled total load up to 18kW, you can be sure this application will be accepted.

If a supply line cable upgrade is needed in the property, the service upgrade cost will be covered by Guernsey Electricity as long as the supply line cable is less than 20 meters in length from the road to the meter location. The timeline for upgrade delivery will be similar to the timelines of any other service upgrade.

As the above load curve shows, between 9pm and 6am there is significant available network capacity to charge Off-Peak Heating Solutions

How does this benefit you?

Electric heating installers will be able to sell more electric heating solutions to more customers as its likely that the 18kW guaranteed acceptance would apply to all one and two bedroom properties, and many three bedroom properties too.

This means there’s potential to sell Off-Peak Storage Heating to several thousand customers.

Off-Peak Storage Heating also helps future-proof customer properties for electric panel radiators once the network capacity increases in a few years, if this is the direction they would ultimately prefer.

Customers can save money while they sleep

Off-Peak Storage Heating uses the cheapest electricity tariff for more affordable electric heating.

Storage heaters have also changed over the years to become modern, ‘Lot 20’ compliant, user-friendly appliances with much better control systems. They’re also controlled in the same way as other dryheating systems as they’re installed on a controlled circuit, meaning customers also won’t need to worry about when their cheap times kick in as it all works automatically.

Current Prices

• Superheat Tariff: 12.24p per unit plus £11.41 per quarter ‘secondary meter’ standing charge

• Overnight Low-Rate Tariff: 11.40p per unit, plus no additional standing charge as it runs from the ‘primary meter’

To find out more, visit www.electricity.gg/offpeakheating

UPPER HOUSE

Dating back to 1883, the former Post Office site in Smith Street has plenty of history. But now it has a bright new future, thanks to a comprehensive refurbishment of the upper floor office space. The outdated small rooms and uneven levels have been opened up to create spacious light-filled offices designed to meet modern requirements.

Following the Post Office’s departure, the listed St Peter Port building had been empty for three years when its prime spot in the centre of town caught the attention of Field Day Developments. Development director, Peter Schofield, said it was just the type of project they were looking for: “We wanted an office building in the centre of town which was in need of refurbishment. The Smith Street premises had been on the market for a little while when we decided to progress with it.

“We knew that the project would have its challenges, but we had a good idea how to tackle them and thought we could create something that would be very appealing to potential tenants.”

Those challenges included the previous conversion work to the space. Dating back many years, the floors of Upper House were home to small, very dark office suites with low ceiling heights. It wasn’t space that would offer much appeal to modern tenants, but the team at Field Day was certain they could change that.

“My business partner, Luke Daynes, and I had the idea to open up the floorplate and remove the small office suites,” said Peter. “The most important aspect of the redesign was to bring in substantial amounts of light into the centre of the building. We knew that would change the whole feel and appeal of the space.”

That introduction of light into the building was achieved through the use of plenty of glass partitioning throughout the offices. Stud walls have been replaced with glazed units, to allow the natural light from both sides of the building to reach the central areas. Roof lights have also been installed, while opening up the previous small rooms has allowed a feeling of spaciousness throughout the offices.

Main contractor Ravenscroft has been a long-standing partner of Field Day, so they were involved with the site from early on in the planning process. For Peter, they were the obvious choice to undertake the work: “We typically partner with Ravenscroft on our Guernsey projects as we really value that relationship and the way they successfully deliver project after project. When we first opened up the building, we had some challenges with the existing structure. Sometimes it’s not until you strip back the building that you can see what you’re dealing with and finalise the designs for the space. We did lose some time at that stage, but Ravenscroft managed that really well to deliver the project for us.”

Contracts manager at Ravenscroft, Stewart Giles, agreed that it was the hidden issues that caused the greatest problems: “Asbestos in particular was a problem on this project. There was lots of it hidden that we couldn’t see until we started stripping back the building. The building had been adapted and changed so many times over the years that we had a lot to deal with when it came to exposing the existing structure. The other main challenge revolved around the fact that the current building is actually two buildings knocked into one. That meant lots of changes of levels throughout the property, with seemingly no clear plan as to how it would all work originally.”

With Field Day and Ravenscroft at the helm, there was certainly a clear plan for this refurbishment. But Stewart said there was plenty of work for his team: “As far as levelling was concerned, all of the floors needed work – and alongside that the corresponding ceilings did as well. We now have consistent levels on each floor of the building, which makes it a far more userfriendly property. At the same time as we were undertaking that work. we improved on the acoustics between each level and

THE BUILDING HAD BEEN ADAPTED AND CHANGED SO MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS THAT WE HAD A LOT TO DEAL WITH WHEN IT CAME TO TAKING IT RIGHT BACK.

each office to bring them up to a modern specification, and improved the passive fire safety.”

Alongside that, a full upgrade of the mechanical and electrical systems was undertaken, with the previous M&E ripped out and replaced. Bringing those systems up to modern standards also involved introducing new services to the building to deal with the increased load.

Altogether, there was a lot of work involved, all within the confines of the town centre site. While its location had been the selling point for Field Day, it did cause certain issues for the Ravenscroft team working in the building, as Stewart explained: “Working in the centre of town always has its challenges, due to the restrictions on the access to the site and for receiving deliveries. Luckily, we could use what will be the ground floor restaurant as our storage area, but we had to manage all of our deliveries and disposal of materials for either early morning or late evening.

“We also had to manage the amount of material coming in to the site, as we needed to store it in the ground floor area and then manhandle it across to where we needed it. In addition, we had sitting tenants during much of the work so we had to be very careful to communicate well with them and ensure they knew what was happening at every stage.”

The work was done for the new tenant, Polygon Serviced Offices. They now have 13 offices and three meeting rooms in the building. Work areas and breakout spaces are also available to those using the space, along with kitchen and toilet facilities. In total, the redevelopment has given 6,306 sq ft of contemporary refurbished office space.

For Peter, balancing the landlord’s and the tenant’s requirements was a careful juggling act: “One of the key elements of the project was the need to fast track the design of the landlord’s Cat A works as well as the simultaneous tenant’s Cat B works. They needed to be incorporated into one project, which was a challenge for us and Ravenscroft. However, they did an excellent job of ensuring the sequence was right to stay on the programme.”

Field Day’s previous Guernsey projects, which include multiple office spaces

including Frances House and Royal Terrace, have meant they have plenty of experience working in the island. But for Peter, they don’t want to simply repeat something that has been successful before: “We like to create an individual personality for each building we develop. While there is a common thread in the quality of the design and the finishes, we want each to stand alone. So we try to evolve our design for each new site rather than recreating what worked well before. We want to not only attract tenants but create

THE CONTRACTORS

Ravenscroft

Axis Mason

CBL Consulting

Acorn Interiors

Apex Scaffolding

C8

Capelles Building Stores

CDS

a demand from them to stay in the building, and we think that’s about the quality of what we offer.

“For Upper House, we took a bolder approach and used more colour than we have done on previous projects. We wanted to make a great first impression from the moment you step into the lobby. The journey from the front door to the office suites is designed to create interest through our use of different materials and texture and

Channel Welders

DWA

Granite Le Pelley

Guernsey Building Supplies

K O’Brien Plasterers

Lotheringtons

Naturewall

Norman Piette

Officeworks

PB Fletcher Tiling

colours. If you look closely, you can notice details such as the terrazzo floor where the colours of the stone fragment are reflected in the colours used on the walls. We’ve also used lot of natural wood and feature panels, along with carefully designed lighting, to ensure the office has a real impact.”

With the 14-month project to refurbish the upper floor offices now complete, work is progressing on the ground floor restaurant, which should open to the public in 2025.

Prime Paving

Ridgeway Furniture

S J Kerins

Sarnian Roofing

SJP Lift Services

Smith Signs

Stainless Steel Fabrications

The Drill Squad

Timber & Damp Proofing

Specialists

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WORK IN PROGRESS

With construction projects around the island showing no signs of slowing down, we found out how some of the major developments are progressing. From worldclass golf ambition at La Grande Mare to a new home for Guernsey football at Victoria Park, these projects will have a major impact on the island when complete.

La Grande Mare Resort

Guernsey’s first luxury golf resort is taking shape at La Grande Mare. Almost six years after island resident Steve Lansdown bought the former hotel, leisure and golf club, he is getting closer to playing a game on the new course.

For Steve, it’s been a frustrating journey at times, but one he’s still got plenty of passion for: “When I decided to buy La Grande Mare, I thought there was an opportunity to both have a bit of fun building a golf course, but also to make a significant investment in the island. I sometimes refer to it as my folly, but I genuinely believe there is the potential for a serious business. I think we can create something really special that will put Guernsey on the golfing map.”

Unlike the previous hotel at La Grande Mare, the new resort will separate the country club from the resident guests. Private lodges in the grounds will replace hotel bedrooms, with the main country club building used as a bar, restaurant and function space. Like the golf, it should fill a gap Steve believes exists in the island: “I tend to look at these things in terms of what I would like. If I’m having a business meeting, I want a quiet corner somewhere I can easily park. I want to be able to get a good cup of coffee and potentially a bite to eat. So that’s what we want to create with the clubhouse.

“From a golf facilities point of view, I want somewhere where I can go and my clubs will be there and everything will be looked

after from the point I arrive to the time I leave. That’s what I’m looking for and I’m sure there are plenty of others who feel the same.”

While the original plan was to convert the existing buildings, the design work quickly showed it would be far more effective to demolish them and start again. That demolition work is now complete, with the build due to start soon.

As to what will replace the old hotel, it’s something that’s been carefully considered by Steve and his team: “I wanted something special for the island that would really stand out through its quality and design, but not for the size or scale of it. It was important that it blended in well with the surroundings, and certainly that it was very light and airy.

“While we were working on the design, I went round the island looking at stonework and buildings and picking out ideas that might suit. We’ve ended up with buildings that use plenty of glass to ensure they feel light, but also have significant granite features to reflect the island location and heritage.”

While Steve is involved with the whole development, it’s clearly the course itself that is the main attraction for him. It’s the area of the resort that is closest to completion, and where work has focused up to this point. For him, it’s exciting to see it start to come together: “We wanted to acquire more land around the outside of the existing course,

Photography by Fred Wynn

and we managed to do so to an extent –although we would have preferred to have more. Once we knew the boundaries, we planned out exactly what we wanted. As well as the championship course, that’s included a more substantial greenkeepers shed, a good driving range and teaching area – all of which were missing from the previous set-up.”

Although Steve has been involved with developing the course, he says he’s trusted in the expertise of the course designers, European Golf Design, to fulfil the brief: “They’ve designed many courses throughout the world, and it’s been fascinating to watch how they’ve approached this one. They are creating something really special for the island.”

While a significant amount of work has occurred on site, not all of it is obvious to observers, as Steve explained: “A key part of what we’ve done with the course is to

create these artificial lakes. They look lovely, but there’s a huge amount of work and money that’s gone into the ground to build them. However, they’re not just there to look nice – the topography means this area of the island can easily flood. We’ve therefore created significant water storage on the course, which we hope will help manage the issue.”

A KEY PART OF WHAT WE’VE DONE WITH THE COURSE IS TO CREATE THESE ARTIFICIAL LAKES. THEY LOOK LOVELY, BUT THERE’S A HUGE AMOUNT OF WORK AND MONEY THAT’S GONE INTO THE GROUND TO BUILD THEM.

The driving range should be the first area of the resort to open – with a launch pencilled in for early next year. While the rest of the course is well underway, it has been hindered by poor weather and will take longer to be ready for players.

But while Steve is keen to see the golf course and resort operating as soon as possible, he’s very much concerned with the longterm impact of the development – and not just as a commercial entity. Protecting the environment and ecology of the area has been a priority throughout the project: “To put it bluntly, this is a nature reserve, not a golf course. When we started the design, it was key to create a better nature reserve, but with the golf course a central part of it.

“We have two landscape teams – one of which is focused on the golfers, and the other is tasked with protecting the natural world. It’s wonderful to be down there and really immersed in nature. We recently had a rare wading bird on the site, which was really special.”

With work having begun on the country club and lodges, Steve expects people to see buildings start to come out of the ground soon. However, it won’t be completed to the original timetable. While the initial plan was to open the course and the buildings in mid-2026, it now seems that while the golf course will be ready by then, those keen to try the country club and lodges will need to wait until sometime in 2027. Once it’s complete, Steve hopes it will give many more people a reason to visit the island he’s made home.

Queens Road Medical Practice

The Queens Road Medical Practice project on the Grange is nearing completion, with the November handover date fast approaching.

Main contractor Ravenscroft says that significant progress has been made over the past six months to ensure the project stays on schedule.

Managing director, Nick Ravenscroft, believes the team has done well to keep progress on track: “Recent key achievements include the installation of two lifts – one in the surgery reception

and another at the pharmacy entrance –alongside internal and external finishes comprising decoration, landscaping, and second-fix M&E works. It’s been a busy period, but the team has pulled together to ensure we are prepared to hand the site over to the client.”

Once complete, the facility is set to provide state-of-the-art healthcare services for islanders. The new medical facilities will include 13 GP consultation rooms, five nurse consultation rooms, and a minor operations room. A new pharmacy will be housed in an extension to the west annexe. The practice will also offer a two-storey administration block located within the old chapel, and a staff area complete with kitchenettes, toilets, and meeting room facilities.

The site has been designed to offer ample parking for both staff and patients, with 41 parking spaces, including two for disabled use.

As well as the medical provision, the site was also granted permission for residential units. Six new flats, with access from La Couperderie, are being completed on the top floor – with a handover date of a little later in the year.

Finally, an existing external building has been converted into a refuse and bicycle store.

For Nick, it’s been a really successful project: “Ravenscroft Construction has delivered the Queens Road Medical Practice project on schedule and within budget. The project team, including architects TDA, structural engineers DLA, and M&E consultants Henderson Green, has worked hard to ensure this modern, accessible facility meets the needs of the local community and will serve Guernsey for years to come. We’re proud to have played our part in it.”

The new practice is on the site of the former Education Department offices, which were sold to the medical practice by the States of Guernsey for £1.56m in 2022. Planning permission was granted for the mixed-use development in 2021.

Creaseys

Work is progressing well on the redevelopment of Creaseys flagship High Street store. The family-owned business is part-way through a major project which will see it expand into the neighbouring building, 13 High Street.

Main contractor Rihoy & Son is responsible for the site. Managing director Dan Taylor says that behind the scaffolding, they have made significant progress: “Number 13 High Street has been demolished and inside the steel frame is now erected. The Comflor deck above the M&S tunnel level and joisting out and ply decks to the upper floors have been completed.”

A significant milestone of the project has also been reached – the installation of the escalators.

“It wasn’t a straightforward installation, but has all gone to plan. The UK specialist installation team has been over twice to

survey and measure and they’ve since installed the escalators in four days,” said Dan. “They each come in two pieces, and need to be craned in through an opening in the scaffold, and carefully positioned into the steel between the floors. An internal temporary hoist system will then gets them into place.”

Following the escalator installation, work will soon start on the glazed curtain walling which will comprise the entire front façade of the building. Work is already underway on the roof structure, and once the curtain walling is complete, the roof covering can be completed.

For Dan, that will be an important point in the project: “Once the roof is finished we can be wind and watertight moving into the new year. Following that, we will effectively move into a phased fit out project during 2025. As with the rest of the project, we’ll need to ensure that the current store is

able to remain operational with customers as little affected as possible during that period.”

Architect Andrew Male of Lovell Ozanne agrees that the site is a success so far: “Works continue to make good progress. They are running to a very complex phasing plan which has been carefully considered. As part of that, two areas of work have recently been completed. Those include the handover of new employee toilets, and the new M&S cold storage areas, both of which have been welcomed by staff.”

With progress going well on site, the project is due to complete in 2026.

M&S ST MARTIN’S

Preliminary enabling works are in progress on the former petrol forecourt at the M&S site in St Martin’s following its closure at the end of August. Hoarding has been erected around the area, with site investigation works and removal of the petrol forecourt ongoing. Building work is due to start next year, but the timeframe for the project will be subject to what is found during the investigation works.

Permission has been granted to reconfigure the existing food hall and expand it into the former fuel station land. The project will increase the retail space from 4,000 sq ft to 7,000 sq ft. Vehicle access will also be changed, with the gravel overspill area to be used for parking, increasing the total of marked vehicle bays to 130. The food store remains open for its usual hours during the work.

Victoria Park

Guernsey’s new “home of football” is on track to open to the public in Spring 2025.

The £10m project will be the first permanent home for the Guernsey FA. It will have covered seating for up to 600 supporters, an artificial 3G pitch, a grass pitch for nine-aside matches and training, physio rooms, and a multi-purpose clubhouse with a bar and restaurant.

With work progressing well on site, the buildings are now wind and watertight, and almost complete externally.

Rihoy & Son is the main contractor for the project. Managing director Dan Taylor said they are on track with their schedule: “The changing block fitout is quite well advanced, while the club house fitout is also underway. The seated and standing stands have been pre-fabricated in the UK, so they are being assembled and fitted at the moment.

“Work will be starting shortly on the roadside wall, which will form the entrance and exit as people come through the carpark.

The nature of the project means certain technical aspects are key. The artificial grass pitch, or ‘carpet’, is currently being laid to produce a world-class all-weather 3G pitch.

Andy Merrett of Lovell Ozanne is the architect responsible for the design. For him, it’s all working out well: “From my perspective, the buildings are looking very good – you can really see now how the whole scheme will appear when it is finished. They’ve gone up very quickly because they are very simple, robust buildings. They are cavity blockwork with an aluminium roof, timber external cladding and with painted blockwork internal finish.”

“The approach to the site design was to try to reflect its semi-rural setting. This site really marks the transition from suburban to rural areas, so it was decided to use as many natural materials as possible. We also worked to keep the buildings at a fairly low level to try to disguise the stands and the football pitch, and allow views through the site to the trees and rural areas beyond.”

Work started on site last summer, with a big push to get the early groundworks complete before the wet weather started. A similar approach has been taken this year, with a recent effort to get the carpark subbase complete before winter is here.

All going well, the new football ground is due to be open in the spring prior to the 2025 Muratti. Find more information about the project at VictoriaPark.gg

Managing change

Gavin Spencer, senior business development manager, Association for Project Management (APM), discusses the benefits of effective project management.

In May last year, APM, the chartered membership organisation for the project profession, launched its first Network in the Channel Islands, bringing together the project professional community across the islands.

roles and responsibilities, increasing adaptability, allowing businesses to respond swiftly to change and promoting better risk management.

THE ACCELERATING PACE OF CHANGE MEANS SENIOR LEADERS FACE THE DIFFICULTY OF CONTENDING WITH ESTABLISHED CHALLENGES, AS WELL AS HAVING TO NAVIGATE NEW ONES.

The Channel Islands Network team is chaired by Edward Mason-Smith, a Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) and Director at CBO, together with regional committee members including Lisa Ayres (CBO) and Simon Tidd (Healthspan). The wider network team comprises APM Chartered Project Professionals and APM Fellow members, alongside experienced project professionals.

Our core members and group of volunteers meet regularly, and a calendar of local events take place throughout the year, including the upcoming Young Business Guernsey event on 7 November at the Art for Guernsey Gallery, and a project management apprenticeships event on 12 November.

The role of project management in today’s business landscape

The accelerating pace of change means senior leaders face the difficulty of contending with established challenges, as well as having to navigate new ones. By aligning resources, processes, and goals, project management acts as the bridge between your business goals and everyday operations. Effective project management ensures that strategic initiatives are broken down into manageable tasks, aligning resources and timelines with overarching objectives.

In a recent APM survey of more than 500 business leaders from across the UK and Channel Islands the top three benefits of integrating a project management-led approach to strategy execution were highlighted as ensuring all team members understand their

The survey also highlighted what business leaders consider to be most important for their organisation being able to successfully deliver Project Portfolio Management (PPM) powered transformation effectively. The top responses were having the right technology, tools and templates in place to enable efficient delivery, having agile knowledge management mechanisms to help teams learn as they go in response to emerging risks and complexities and ensuring the appropriate governance structure is in place.

In today’s volatile market conditions, adaptability is essential for business survival. And embedding effective project management practices is not just a best practice; it is essential for achieving long-term success and sustainability in the modern business landscape. This means having the right skills in place is essential. At APM, we offer a range of project management qualifications which are designed to support you and your team throughout every stage of your project management career.

Project professionals looking to build on their project management skills can now take APM’s new Project Management Qualification exam, aimed at candidates with two to three years of experience as a project professional. APM qualifications also offers a clear route to achieving the Chartered Project Professional (ChPP) status, recognising the competence and success of project professionals.

For further information about APM’s Channel Islands Network contact: ed.mason-smith@cboprojects.com and gavin.spencer@apm.org.uk.

Visit apm.org.uk for details on APM qualifications and training.

Careers in construction

John Bampkin, chair of the Guernsey Construction Forum (GCF), sets out the wealth of career opportunities available in the industry, and highlights some of the work being undertaken by its employers to offer high-level education and training to their employees.

We know how vital the construction industry is to the island; providing and maintaining the infrastructure and communities we live and work in. And this important industry relies on its people. From site managers to labourers, engineers to groundworkers, construction depends on a whole range of skills and expertise.

The College also provides National and Higher National qualifications in a range of professional subjects; civil engineering, architectural technology, construction management, and building services engineering. These day release courses enable employees to continue working, gaining valuable experience whilst learning.

THROUGHOUT THE LOCAL INDUSTRY THERE ARE PLENTY OF EXAMPLES OF FIRMS TAKING THE INITIATIVE TO TRAIN THEIR EMPLOYEES AND PROVIDE REAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAREER PROGRESSION.

As the construction sector continues to face labour shortages across the board, the need for a capable and skilled workforce is increasing. This demand offers young people a unique advantage: entering an industry with a high level of job security and excellent career opportunities.

Many people would be surprised at the wealth of career opportunities in the construction sector, even within Guernsey. For anyone looking for a stable, rewarding career, regardless of educational background, the variety of roles available means there is something for everyone. The Guernsey construction industry prides itself on the range of educational and training opportunities for those working in local companies, from apprenticeships to degrees, health and safety training to professional memberships.

The Guernsey College of Further Education, in collaboration with local employers, has been providing apprenticeships for more than 60 years. The current apprenticeships in carpentry and joinery, trowel trades and plumbing and heating, to name a few, continue to play a key role in developing skills in the industry.

Qualified apprentices, and experienced site employees have further career progression opportunities through the CIOB supervisor (level 3) and management (level 4) courses at the College.

Some of the larger employers in the industry offer in-house educational opportunities; these include distance-learning/online degrees, for example BSc (Hons) in Quantity Surveying through the University College of Estate Management, and professional qualifications, for example MCIOB and CIAT, MICE.

It doesn’t stop there. The industry is ever evolving; new technologies, increasing environmental awareness, building regulations, health and safety regulations, BIM etc. This means that industry professionals are continually learning and developing. Progressive companies provide professional development plans, CPD opportunities, and inhouse training and off-island training.

This includes opportunities such as CITB fiveday courses for engineers, RICS Foundation courses in Quantity Surveying, IOSH Working Safely, and numerous other health and safety training courses.

Setting the standard

Throughout the local industry there are plenty of examples of firms taking the initiative to train their employees and provide real opportunities for career progression.

Rihoy & Son has recently introduced an undergraduate training programme, supporting and mentoring students who are undertaking a construction related degree, by providing structured work experience during holidays/

placement years. Another initiative to fill a skills gap, is their in-house groundworker apprenticeship, a structured programme of in-house training alongside accredited courses, such as plant training, cable avoidance etc.

Similarly, Geomarine is registered as an approved training centre to deliver task specific vocational training through IOSH, NPORS, CABWI and NRSWA courses, via in-house qualified trainers, including working in confirmed spaces, abrasive wheels etc.

Outside of professional courses, there are opportunities in material supply and the ability to build yourself a career from the bottom to the top of any business. Personally, I started working in a timber yard putting away stock and sweeping up. Today I sit at the head of a great family-run group of businesses in a wonderful part of the world. So the options are plentiful and potentially huge for anybody at any level.

There is no shortage of passionate and enthusiastic construction professionals on the island who encourage and support the education and training of new and young people into the industry.

By embracing the opportunities available today, young people can pursue an exciting, rewarding, and lucrative career in an incredibly varied industry that is continually growing and evolving to meet the needs of all of us, today and for tomorrow.

Current apprentices:

• 8 x carpentry and joinery

• 2 x trowel trades

• HNC in Civil Engineering

CIOB

• 1 x CIOB L3

• 2 x CIOB L4

Engineers’ courses in UKCITB 5-day courses

• Site Surveying and Setting Out

• Civil Engineering Setting Out

In-house groundworker apprenticeship

A structured programme of in-house training alongside accredited courses e.g. safety in excavations, plant training, abrasive wheels, cable avoidance.

Undergraduate training programme

Supporting students who are currently studying a construction related degree, by providing structured work experience in holidays/placement years, mentoring.

CIOB Chartered Membership programme – x 2 currently applying for MCIOB

RICS Foundation in Quantity Surveying (six module online training course) RICS Online Academy

BSc (Hons) Quantity Surveying

Degree, distance/online learning through UCEM University College of Estate Management –professional QS, accredited by RICS and CIOB

Registered approved IOSH, NPORS, CABWI and NRSWA training centre to deliver own programme of task -specific training via in-house qualified trainer (includes abrasive wheels, ISOH working safely, confined spaces etc)

Geomarine is an Institution of Civil Engineers Approved Employer with a formal training scheme providing graduates a structured path to Chartered Engineer level.

Current apprentices:

• 9 x carpentry and joinery

• 2 x trowel trade

• 3 x HNC

• 2 x CIOB Level 4

• 2 applying for MCIOB

• 1 x NEBOSH H&S

2 x HNC in Architectural Technology at the Guernsey College of Further Education

Climate change: changing construction’s culture

Caroline Gumble, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), discusses the CIOB’s focus on environmental sustainability for the built environment.

HE INJECTED A NOTE OF URGENCY, SAYING THAT EVERYTHING WE DO MUST NOW PASS THE “CLIMATE TEST” AND CONTRIBUTE TO A NET ZERO BUILT ENVIRONMENT.

This is not the first column I’ve written for this magazine mentioning sustainability in construction. But in the last year, CIOB has been able to bring more focus to our work on this. We have a head of environmental sustainability on board, working alongside our new president, Professor Mike Kagioglou FCIOB, who has put the UN Sustainability Development Goals “at the heart” of his presidential year.

I am also writing this after our first ever Net Zero Built Environment conference, hosted by our head of environmental sustainability, which I found incredibly inspiring. This event was part of our work to accelerate a drive to a more sustainable built environment. This was also the headline for our event: accelerating towards a net zero built environment.

We were fortunate to have an excellent, international line-up of speakers, including Mike Kagioglou and our vice president Saul Humphrey FCIOB (winner of this year’s CIOB Sustainability Award). There was a lot of great content but Mike Kagioglou’s opening remarks had the biggest impact on me. From the start of his talk, he injected a note of urgency, saying that everything we do must now pass the “climate test” and contribute to a net zero built environment.

He gave a powerful reminder that the challenges in delivering on the UNSDGs are significant - but also that safety, health and wellbeing, progress as a society - and much more - are all inextricably linked.

Understanding this and the impact of what we do as a sector, is necessary in committing to deliver a more sustainable built environment.

Mike went on to issue some calls to action –things we can all do - which are worth sharing:

• We must move away from “siloed ways” of working;

• We must challenge the traditional routes into professionalism and the old ways of attracting and developing talent; and

• We must, of course, also challenge old techniques for putting together a building.

Mike’s sign-off was the headline challenge, though, with a call to use the SDGs to drive the culture change we need to see across the industry and to think about what more each of us can do.

I want to thank all the speakers we had, as they contributed to an excellent event on an important issue. I can also confirm we already have plans to run this as an annual event – so watch this space for news about next year’s sustainability conference.

The subject is also at the forefront of my mind in the run-up to COP29, in which CIOB will be participating in some of the sessions, particularly on “Buildings Day”, which is 20 November 2024. We will also be launching our new publication “Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment” later this year – watch this space for news about that too!

CIOB in the Channel Islands

As ever, if you would like to find out more about events being organised by our South UK Hub, do feel free join our LinkedIn group “CIOB in South UK” or check out the events section of the CIOB website.

Closer ties for chartered architects

Chartered architect, David De La Mare of DLM Architects, updates readers on the Guernsey Society of Architects’ recent work to foster a closer relationship with the RIBA, and the benefits that could have for the industry.

The Guernsey Society of Architects (GSA) has been relatively quiet for the past few years, having suffered from a general loss of momentum and a committee of voluntary members who have been focusing on work in practice and staying in front of a rapidly evolving industry. Previously the GSA was a Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) regional branch; however over the last decade the relationship with the RIBA has faded and the branch has become dormant, with associated funding and support being suspended.

However, with these issues dominating the headlines and the subsequent political pressure to deliver something, we must not lose sight of our sustainable objectives. The IDP needs to introduce and enforce more focused sustainable policies and targets if it intends to keep up with the Sustainable Development Goals 2030, and to protect our island for future generations. Guernsey is a microcosm and could set an exemplar for sustainable industry and construction, benefiting the long-term wellbeing of our whole community.

SEVERAL LOCAL ARCHITECTS HAVE FORMED AN INTERIM GSA COMMITTEE AND HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD TO REBUILD THIS RELATIONSHIP AND REJUVENATE THE BRANCH

The recent rejuvenation of the Bathing Pools, and its recognition in various national awards, has attracted several respected architectural critics to visit the island. These judges were carefully selected by the various professional bodies as established and emerging professionals with a range of experience, skills, and backgrounds. The most recent RIBA Awards panel included Chris Williamson, the current president of the RIBA. His trip to the island offered local chartered architects the opportunity to reconnect directly with the RIBA, and establish a closer connection to better support the profession locally.

Over the past few months, several local architects have formed an interim GSA committee and have been working hard to rebuild this relationship and rejuvenate the branch with a priority to focus on a number of key issues.

Barely a day goes by without news of affordable housing provision, call for sites and the pending review of the Island Development Plan. This media attention encourages public criticism towards the States of Guernsey for a lack of meaningful consultation, and architects should be front and centre of these discussions. In addition to the demand for housing, release of appropriate land and proposed capital projects, there are challenges the whole construction industry face in recruitment and resourcing work already procured.

A revived GSA will offer architects a collective voice to engage with current and future issues. In addition, a higher quality of Continual Practice Development will ensure that, as a profession and individuals, we are meeting our professional duty and delivering best practice in respect of the Building Safety Act and other areas of procurement, design and production.

With this new energy it would be nice to see the GSA review its brand - addressing public awareness and understanding of the different qualifications, services and ultimately professional results from working with a chartered architect. All being well, in the next issue, you’ll be hearing from our newly elected chair, who will be able to explain the new structure and primary objectives of the GSA … or possibly the RIBA Guernsey.

Working at height

States of Guernsey head of profession – health and safety, and committee member of the Guernsey Occupational Safety and Health Association (GOSHA), Dan Espley has plenty of expertise in how to safely work from height. Here he shares his advice for others in the industry.

Imagine … stepping from a crew transfer vessel to the foundation of an offshore wind turbine, then climbing up several sets of externally fixed ladders. The plan, transfer into the main tower, ascending another 90m. Elsewhere in the offshore construction industry, rope access teams are working aloft in difficult to reach locations.

Colleagues operating onshore utilise scaffolding, tower scaffolds, Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) and ladders day and night. These aspects were just part of my responsibility within the offshore sector and subsequent onshore operations.

Not to be forgotten are those people located in the vicinity beneath activities being conducted above. Dangers relate to materials, tools and equipment falling from height. When reviewing ‘near miss’ reports, it is clear if circumstances or processes were slightly different, the results could have been devastating. Proactive safety management remains crucial to preventing injuries, and in turn, loss of production.

From a broader viewpoint, commercial pressure is certainly a primary influence during any construction project. Prior to approving contracts, information often requested by clients includes evidence of credible safety management.

BEING EVER MINDFUL OF THE ADAGE IF YOU THINK SAFETY IS EXPENSIVE, TRY AN ACCIDENT.

If briefly sharing a few operational focus points around working at height encourages awareness, or simply a refocus on safety strategies, then hopefully this article will be of interest and use.

Consider the well-used phrase, ‘safety is common sense’. But is it? A more apt comment is ‘manage and protect’, words that that have stayed with me throughout a 20-year offshore career and remain equally valid for onshore tasks. But what does this actually involve in practice? Developing teamwork, experience, skills, providing underpinning knowledge and training, highlighting responsibility and accountability, all packaged within a formal process of perpetual improvement, ‘Plan - DoCheck – Act.’

Why worry about working at height? The most recent Health & Safety Executive (HSE) (UK) statistics stated that construction had the highest number of fatal injuries. The most common types, falls from height. More than 60% of deaths were associated with fragile roofs not designed to carry a load, other than that which will be experienced by weather.

Demonstrating best practice makes extremely good business sense, especially when tendering for and winning contracts. This also includes attracting and retaining skilled personnel. Being ever mindful of the adage ‘if you think safety is expensive, try an accident’ focuses the mind, and influences the order book.

After a workplace incident, investigations uncover the chain of events, highlighting immediate, underlying and root causes. This supports the notion ‘prevention is better than cure’, highly relevant from a moral, legal and financial viewpoint.

In summary, safety is not all common sense. When managers and employees adhere to industry best practice, share knowledge, skills and experience, this enables employees to effectively perform working at height tasks and return home safely. In doing so, a positive safety culture protects an organisation’s reputation, commercial longevity and its most important asset, people.

Healthy buildings for a healthy you

Miles Pengelley, chartered architectural technologist at JG Architecture Ltd, explains how the indoor environments we create can affect our health.

Living in mouldy properties can cause respiratory illnesses, allergies and asthma, and can sometimes be fatal. In 2020, twoyear-old Awaab Ishak died as a result of the mould in his home in Rochdale. Ventilation in the one-bedroom flat he and his family were living in was found to be ineffective. As a result, Awaab’s Law was introduced.

A sinister introduction to this article, but a topic that is a real consideration in a built environment where health and wellbeing should be a priority, given the average person will spend the majority of their lifetime indoors.

When we don’t ventilate these indoor spaces properly, they become more and more toxic. As architectural technologists, we have a very important role to play in creating healthy environments that allow people not just to survive, but to thrive.

WHEN WE DON’T VENTILATE THESE INDOOR SPACES PROPERLY, THEY BECOME MORE AND MORE TOXIC.

As a chartered architectural technologist, when presented with a client brief that considers the creation of new habitable spaces, we must ensure that for compliance with building regulations, sufficient ventilation is provided to these rooms. One of these design considerations relates to background and purge ventilation, where the level of performance required is relative to the size of each habitable room.

Designing for passive and background ventilation is an easy enough task –through openable window sizes and trickle ventilators, or double lockable latches on casement windows.

During the warmer months of the year we all throw open our windows and doors and let the outside air in. In contrast, as the temperatures start to drop and with energy and heat losses in mind, we seem to adopt a mindset of shutting the outside out and making our buildings as air tight as possible. This is not as good an idea as you might first think. Making the building too air tight will creating an environment conducive to mould growth.

With this comes a requirement to educate our clients on how to use and maintain the spaces that we create. In situations where ventilation options can cause security concerns, or where the user of the building perhaps cannot be trusted to use the building ‘properly’ (e.g. tenants in rented accommodation who ignore advice about ventilation), then mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR) systems may be an option.

Chartered architectural technologists, whilst wired for technical thinking, are humble enough to know that they are not specialists in all areas. As such, we will always look for specialist advice during the design stages of projects. For example, a mechanical and electrical services consultant to advise on MVHR.

Whilst ventilation is a key component to healthy indoor environments, it is only part of the picture. The approach also has to be about maintaining good construction practices and design to ensure there is sufficient and suitably controlled ventilation and heating to keep the indoor conditions out of the mould growth zone.

If you have a property that suffers from mould growth, please reach out to a CIAT member or a mechanical and electrical services engineer for advice on how to make your building a place for you to thrive!

THE ART OF BUILDING

Think you’ve got an eye for a good photo? The Chartered Institute of Building’s annual photography competition is open for entries. Thousands of amateur and professional photographers across the globe enter the contest, which is designed to showcase the beauty of the built environment.

The competition is free to enter, with the winner in each category not only taking home a £1,500 cash prize, but also seeing their artwork showcased at construction sites around the world.

Saul Townsend, head of communications at CIOB, said: “Buildings are much more than just structures which we use, they are works of art which shape the landscape of our cities and communities. They speak about our culture and the people using them. The Art of Building competition gives both budding and experienced photographers a platform to showcase building artistry and share it around the globe.”

A panel of judges will shortlist the top submissions. Members of the public will then be able to select the best image for the Public Choice award while the judges will also select someone to be crowned as the Judges’ Choice winner.

Saul added: “Each year, the standard of entries gets better and better and it becomes increasingly difficult for us to pick a shortlist – let alone a winner.

“As judges, we’re looking forward to being shown something new and we encourage anyone who plans to enter this year’s contest to express themselves through their photography.”

The winning shot of last year’s Public Choice award was captured by Bangladesh’s Azim Khan Ronnie, who submitted a stunning image of the National Mosque of Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Belgium’s Alain Schroeder’s image titled Bricks – also captured in Bangladesh – scooped the Judges’ Choice crown.

The Art of Building competition is open to anyone over 18 years of age with the deadline for entry 25 November 2024. The two winning entries will be announced on 22 January 2025.

For more information visit: www.ciob.me/artofbuilding

LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION?

Hopefully something in Guernsey’s built environment will offer inspiration. If not, head to Instagram to get those creative juices flowing. From the classic to the quirky, here’s our pick of the best architectural accounts.

@Archdaily @archdigest @designboom @architecture_hunter @archello @officialnormanfoster @snohetta @chrisprecht @studiosaxe

As an accredited specialist, Baudains Access & Storage delivers complete access and storage solutions tailored to businesses, property owners, and contractors. Our commitment to compliance and safety ensures optimal protection for those working in commercial environments.

Backed by industry-specific training, we drive health and safety excellence across the Channel Islands.

• ITSSAR accredited training

• SEMA approved

• CHAS elite

• Exclusive Channel Island SpanSet supplier and installation partner

• SEMA and SEIRS certified staff

• Certified to work at height

• Trained GOTCHA rescuers

• Working to approved codes of practice

• Professional indemnity insurance

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