This Is Guernsey

By Juliet Pouteaux

Artists impression of the proposed Leale's Yard development.

TOWN businesses could be ‘sucked dry’ by the Leale’s Yard development if it went ahead, according to the Chamber of Commerce.

Carl Symes, chairman of the chamber’s land use and planning sub-group, has drawn up a letter which lays out serious concerns about the Channel Island Co-operative Society’s multi-million pound proposal for the Bridge site.

This is an about-turn for the business group, which pledged its support to the project in April. But since seeing the plans. members were concerned about the impact of the development.

Mr Symes believed many islanders did not realise what the plans could do to Guernsey.

‘Leale’s Yard will impact on everyone across the island and is a serious threat to retail,’ he said.

He claimed the development would be double the retail space currently in St Peter Port, as well as including a large amount of residential area.

‘It will be massive, even by UK standards,’ said Mr Symes.

He believed it would draw businesses away from Town and lead to an empty, unattractive High Street.

‘Leale’s Yard will be a better design and layout than Town, because it is modern. Town is historic, but this new development would be a blank canvas, and that’s attractive to traders.’

He wanted the States to commission a retail strategy to study Guernsey’s shopping needs, before approving any large retail developments.

‘We are not saying there shouldn’t be more retail in Guernsey,’ said Mr Symes.

‘We know there is scope for more retail activity. But the scale of Leale’s Yard concerns us. A retail strategy would show what part St Peter Port should play, and ensure other developments, like Leale’s Yard don’t suck Town dry.’

He was keen for an independent assessment to be carried out on the Leale’s Yard plans. He felt that one carried out by CACI, on behalf of the Co-op, did not look at how the development would affect St Peter Port.

Channel Island Co-Operative Society chief executive Jim Hopley believed the CACI assessment was an accurate study of the development and its impact.

‘We would not want them to overestimate the space we could build, as we will need to fill it,’ he said.

‘We are comfortable that it would be good for the economy.’

He said because the CACI assessment was carried out four years ago, any assessments carried out then would not be relevant today.

‘Now we are in an economic downturn, and there are empty shops in Town, but we wouldn’t be opening today. We would wait until the economy recovered.’

But Mr Symes is concerned Guernsey could rush headlong into the project, without looking at the possible long-term impact on the island as a whole.

Plans for Leale’s Yard were submitted to the Environment Department in April. Yesterday a spokesperson confirmed they were under formal consideration, but was unable to make any further comment. They also declined to comment on the suggestion of a Guernsey retail strategy.jpouteaux@guernsey-press.com

Article posted on 4th July, 2009 - 2.29pm