Industry News

Major improvements proposed for La Vallette

Approved Development Framework for Bougourd Ford

A redeveloped kiosk, regeneration of the Bathing Pools and a mixed use performance space are all being proposed for La Vallette, as part of the States of Guernsey’s Seafront Enhancement Area Programme. Not-for-profit group ‘Vive La Vallette’ has been confirmed as the preferred bidder for the two sites in the area.

The group includes several islanders who are well-known locally for their community work, including Dave Warr, former vicechair of the Guernsey Community Foundation, former Guernsey football manager Steve Sharman, and David De La Mare of DLM Architects.

“We are really excited about the potential for La Vallette and our ideas for the area will take in the arts, the natural environment and physical and mental health and wellbeing. This will be something not for an exclusive group, it’s for the whole community,” said Dave Warr.

The group is now being given a four month exclusivity period by the States to further develop and confirm their proposal, a process which will include further engagement with the public. The commercial terms are to be agreed and will be the subject of negotiation during the exclusivity period.

The two sites at La Vallette are the first of the six along the seafront to reach this key stage, but further announcements for the other sites are expected in the coming months.

A Development Framework has been approved by the Development & Planning Authority (D&PA) for the site at Bougourd Ford, Grange Road, St Peter Port. The site is designated as a housing allocation site in the Island Development Plan (IDP) and is currently occupied by a car dealership and offices. The Development Framework provides planning guidance on how the site might be developed by setting out how relevant policies in the IDP will be applied.

A Draft Development Framework for the site was the subject of a four week public consultation period, during which responses were received from members of the public, States’ committees and agencies.

The issues raised through the consultation included landscaping and biodiversity, access for pedestrians and emergency services, contaminated land, residential amenity and relationship of development with neighbouring properties. All of the matters raised were fully considered by the Authority and several amendments were made to the draft in response to the comments received before the final Framework was approved.

The main amendments related to avoiding excessive use of hard or artificial landscaping; consideration of possible contamination of land; the requirement to consider additional improvements to pedestrian access and security; and the consideration of access for emergency services to the rear of Grange Lodge Hotel.

NP Group expands CI Portfolio

The NP Group has purchased Quantum Building Supplies in Jersey from Scott and Alison Donaldson. The Guernsey-based NP Group is an established timber and builders’ merchant. This acquisition further expands its Channel Islands portfolio of businesses and is its second in Jersey, having founded Jeco Homes seven years ago.

“We are delighted with the acquisition of this well-established business, which gives us the chance to develop our group. NP will be looking to invest in the company and build on the excellent foundations achieved by Scott and Alison,” said Adrian Norman of the NP Group.

Quantum Building Supplies was founded in 1994. Under careful management, and with the support of loyal employees and customers, the business has expanded to achieve a significant turnover.

“Alison and I are pleased to be handing over Quantum to another family-run company with similar business ethics to further grow and expand the business. We want to thank everyone who has supported us over the years and are excited about the future of our business within the NP Group,” added Scott Donaldson.

Paul Rogers, CEO of the NP Group, said: “This is an excellent expansion for us. The first-class reputation Quantum enjoys, along with the strong relationship with its customer base, gives us a solid foundation on which to develop in Jersey.”

Jersey Construction Awards underway

Nominations have closed for the 2019 Jersey Construction Awards. This year’s gala dinner will take place on Saturday 19 October at the Royal Jersey Showground, Trinity. The new venue for 2019 will enable more people to attend the popular event, which is now in its 15th year.

This year’s awards will include nominations in a variety of categories including small businesses, individual achievements, innovative processes and projects ranging from anything under £1m to larger projects of over £5m.

With a significant amount of construction currently taking place within the island, the JeCC is also be looking to recognise a business which has embraced sustainability and innovative processes either on a project or within their own workplace. “The current economic climate sees the industry confident in the short-term future. However, this resilience does not come without some challenges. We geared up to deliver a new hospital, only to be stood down at the 11th hour and as yet, have no insight as to what will happen next,” said Daren Malorey, chairman of the 2019 awards sub-committee.

“New legislation, like the proposed parental leave law, is going to be a challenge for our industry. Despite this, there are many positives and these awards are an opportunity to showcase the excellence of the industry over the past 12 months.”

This year’s judging panel will include Graeme Smith, CEO of Jersey Business, who will continue as chairman. He will be supported by Professor Ed Sallis OBE, Mike Liston OBE, Sarah Gordon, senior building control surveyor, and Tammy Fage, director HSI inspectorate. All information about the awards can be found on the JeCC website,

www.jerseyconstruction.org

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Busy year expected for property market

Skipton International is preparing itself for one of the busiest years for the local property market since the financial crisis, with positive results from the first quarter of the year and a continued demand for its mortgages. The latest Residential Property Bulletin from the States of Guernsey revealed a 4.4% growth in average house prices for the quarter ending 31 March, compared with the same period in 2018. The average home in Guernsey now costs £425,394, a drop of 2.9% from the previous quarter. Activity at the start of this year was markedly higher than at the start of 2018. 177 transactions took place in the first quarter of the year compared to 140 in 2018, with the largest number taking place in the £400k£499 price bracket. This was the busiest first quarter of any year since 2007.

“The start of the year is traditionally a slower time for property completions. These results reflect a continued growth which is both solid and sustainable for the market and which we believe could be evidence of the start of one of our strongest years for quite some time,” said Jim Coupe, managing director of Skipton International.

The time taken between the advertisement of a property and its sale continues to fall, a trend which started at the beginning of 2018. Increased demand from buyers has also led to a tightening between the advertised property price and that at which they are sold, with a difference of between 5-7% for the first quarter of this year.

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£60 million sale at Admiral Park

A fund advised by Brockton Capital has completed the sale of the freehold investment of Martello Court and Dorey Court in Guernsey to an overseas investor for £60.65 million, reflecting a net initial yield of 6.40%. Savills, JLL and Mourant Ozannes jointly represented Brockton Capital, while the purchaser was advised by Carey Olsen.

Located within Admiral Park, Martello Court and Dorey Court are two of the premier office buildings in the Channel Islands, prominently located in St Peter Port and providing 89,100 sq ft of Grade A office.

The freehold assets are multi-let with tenants including ABN AMRO, Aon Insurance, Investec Asset Management and Royal Bank of Canada. “Having sold these buildings in 2015 to a fund advised by Brockton Capital, we are delighted to have worked with them on an asset management strategy over the past four years,” said Tony Rowbotham, Channel Islands commercial director for Savills.

“During that time we have advised on the refurbishment of Dorey Court and let space to Aon Insurance, JTC and Royal Bank of Canada. Investors in the fund have received substantial annual returns and we have delivered a 22% uplift in the buildings’ capital value over the four year time frame. The sale demonstrates that the Channel Islands continue to be a location of choice for the savvy investor.”

Open Market focus for new Livingroom appointment

Livingroom Estate Agents has appointed experienced brand and communications professional, Emy De La Mare.

Emy joins the award-winning Channel Islands’ company to manage its brand and business development with particular focus on the Open Market in Guernsey. With more than a decade of experience in international marketing, events and communications roles in both Australia and Guernsey, Emy brings a wealth of knowledge to the team and is tasked with identifying new opportunities for the business.

The newly created role will see Emy working closely with Livingroom founder, CEO Simon Torode, and the agency’s dedicated in-house creative and PR teams to ensure its properties are marketed effectively in Guernsey, Jersey and further afield.

“We’ve always taken pride in doing things differently and Emy’s appointment is the latest signal of our innovative approach and the importance of bespoke marketing when selling and letting property in the Channel Islands,” said Simon Torode.

“Proudly independent, we are a Channel Islands-born agency rather than a UK agency trying to understand local markets – there is a vital difference. Emy’s experience will further add to our bespoke and tailored offering rather than generic corporate formulation, demonstrating to our clients that we are always looking for new and interesting ways to promote property and our services. Emy is a welcome addition to the agency and we look forward to showcasing more exciting plans shortly.”

D2 Real Estate expands Guernsey team

The firm opened its Guernsey office in January 2018 and is the only commercial property adviser with full-time qualified surveyors based in both Guernsey and Jersey.

The past 12 months have been a period of growth for the company resulting in D2 being involved in many of the high-profile transactions throughout the Channel Islands.

D2 Real Estate, a manager of commercial property in the Channel Islands, has expanded its Guernsey team with the appointment of Jo Wyatt as commercial property agent. Jo is a well-known face in Guernsey and has spent a large part of her career working in a client relationship capacity and building relationships within the business sector and community of Guernsey, including work within the property sector. Jo’s role within D2 will be to deliver a first class service to clients, taking on projects in their infancy and identifying opportunities for growth.

“We are delighted to welcome Jo to D2 Real Estate. Her enthusiasm and wealth of experience within the business community will be a real asset to our expanding business,” said director Matt Birch.

New associate directors for Savills Guernsey

Savills estate agent in Guernsey has added to its senior team with the appointment of two new associate directors.

Nick Paluch joins the company with many years of experience in the property sector and a specialist knowledge of the local market. He started his career in estate agency over seven years ago and was previously a residential sales manager at one of the island’s largest firms.

“I’m delighted to have joined Savills. The Guernsey office has some exciting plans and I’m looking forward to being able to play a part in that – supporting the existing team and helping to drive future growth,” Nick said.

“The market in Guernsey has strengthened despite wider political and economic concerns across the UK proving that there has never been a better time to buy or sell your dream home. The market is surprisingly robust and we continue to see a strong level of interest with an extensive portfolio of properties for buyers.”

Richard Fox, head of office and residential at Savills Guernsey, added: “It’s great to have Nick on board. He brings a great deal of experience, not just in terms of selling houses but also in presentation and digital marketing. He has an excellent reputation within the industry for his friendly manner and customer centric approach, consistently delivering exceptional results for his clients.”

Savills has also announced a promotion within its Guernsey office, which has seen Stuart Leslie move into the position of associate director alongside Nick.

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Guernsey Electricity and GOSHA aim to improve safety

Guernsey Electricity and the Guernsey Occupational Safety & Health Association (GOSHA) are reminding islanders, and especially those in the building industry, to seek professional advice before engaging in any groundworks or building demolition via a free service.

‘ClickB4Udig’ is a free online and telephone facility and enables on-island contractors to check for electricity cables and supplies at no charge and request that services are made safe prior to starting work.

“At best, cutting through or crushing a live electric cable can be inconvenient and costly. At its worst, a damaged cable can result in serious injury or even death, so this free service is designed to provide the best possible advice to anyone before they engage in any groundwork or demolition,” said Andrew Mills, chairman of GOSHA.

“The number of incidents involving cable strikes has been increasing, so the need for contractors to check before initiating works is very important. In 2017, 13 cable strikes were reported to Guernsey Electricity for investigation and this number rose to 23 last year, so the need for vigilance and preplanning is becoming all the more important.”

The free service can provide support for works involving demolition of properties, sinking of boreholes, installing fence posts, stump grinding, excavations on public roads or pathways and digging on private properties.

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New managing director at G4S

G4S Channel Islands has announced the internal promotion of Simon Haywood to managing director. Simon has been with G4S for 10 years, most recently as Channel Islands operations director. “G4S is a people-led business and we are proud to employ more than 600 staff in the Channel Islands. I am delighted that Simon, a committed and passionate member of the team, has been appointed to this pivotal role. Simon is the right person for the job with the focus and commitment needed to achieve our ambitious growth plans and continue to provide safe and productive working environments for local businesses of all sizes,” said chairman John Henwood.

Simon started his career in the Royal Air Force and moved to Jersey to take up the post of technical support engineer for Flagship Technology. Following 13 years as general manager at Jersey Post, Simon joined G4S. Commenting on his appointment, Simon said: “I’m really excited to have the opportunity to lead this fantastic, unique and diverse business in the Channel Islands. G4S C.I. has ambitious plans to grow and diversify but this will only be possible if we secure, train and retain the best talent. This is probably the single biggest challenge we, and other organisations in the Channel Islands, face.

“My aim is for G4S to become Employer of Choice, and our staff return home each day safe and proud to be part of the G4S team. I will also make it a priority to review all service lines and identify how we embrace technology to supplement our teams and deliver services in new and more efficient ways.”

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Established more than a decade ago, Colour Monster is now a well-known name in Guernsey. But while many local businesses may have used them during that time for their paper printing needs, the company can now help with work wear as well.

Colour Monster is used by a range of island clients for items such as leaflets, corporate stationery, brochures and flyers. Now they have expanded their business with state-of-the-art machinery and the purchase of ‘Industrial & Leisure’, a work wear print business.

All print and embroidery is done in-house and popular items for the construction industry, such as hi-visibility work wear, fire-retardant clothing, sweatshirts, fleeces and jackets can all be supplied.

The importance of branding, even for the smallest of companies, is well known and Colour Monster works with many in the construction trade locally to supply polo shirts and other attire displaying their logo.

“Embroidered and print designed clothing for work wear can be effectively utilised to define and develop a business’s corporate identity and image. It can help differentiate your brand in the minds of your consumers, competitors and stakeholders. By differentiating your brand from competitors with branded work wear clothing, it can attract customers to your business more effectively,” said director Matthew Stephen. Damian Lacey, managing director, added: “Colour Monster decided to buy Industrial & Leisure purely as a natural expansion to our existing print service offering, along with our school wear shop, Game Changers.

“With the Industrial & Leisure machinery that we acquired it has enabled us to produce all school and work wear in-house at our premises on the Braye Road industrial estate. We are proud that all works are carried out onisland, providing quality merchandise for Guernsey.”