BELLE Greve Bay could be turned into a series of islands with housing, lagoons and moorings under radical plans put forward by developer Long Port. Its ‘Little Venice’ vision for the east coast also includes a five star hotel and a department store at North Beach, a commercial development with underground car parking at the Fish Quay and sewage and solid waste treatment plants at Longue Hougue.

The developer’s chairman, Charles Billson, believes the regeneration would stimulate economic growth to help fill the tax black hole and could even lead to lower taxes.

‘We’re giving a sustainable development programme here, a vision for what could be done for the future,’ said Mr Billson.

‘We’re interested in being part of this regeneration initiative and it’s up to government and the community if they want us to participate or not.’

The plans have been drawn up over the last eight years and include a possible £10m. cross subsidy of integrated waste treatment facilities if the Belle Greve phase went ahead.

‘Yes it will be a shock to the average Guernseyman, but communities have to go forward,’ said Mr Billson yesterday.

There are five phases to the scheme centred on Longue Hougue and Belle Greve Bay, the Fish Quay and Careening Hard, North Beach, St Sampson’s Commercial Harbour and the White Rock.

The first three would need a £0.5bn investment from Long Port and its financial backer, the Royal Bank of Scotland International, and would generate a £100m. return for the States.

Mr Billson stressed that Jersey was already 11 years down the line with its Waterfront development.

‘It would show the world that Guernsey PLC means business, it would be good for the finance industry, which is good for the community.’

Each of the phases could stand alone, he said.

‘What we’re saying to the public and to government is that RBSI and our company is ready to be part of this process to get a package running sooner rather than later.’

The plans were submitted to Public Services as part of its consultation on sewage treatment.

States members attended a presentation of them yesterday.

‘The response was excellent. This is a series of ideas, concepts for the deputies and for the community to consider,’ said Mr Billson.

Public Services minister Bill Bell said the plans were extremely well received.

‘What we’ve got to do as a department is compile our report on sewage treatment, the options available to us from continuing to do what we do to a full treatment plant for £50m.,’ he said.

‘I think it’s quite obvious £50m. of capital expenditure is not available at this time and we have looked at ways any development could be funded.’

The Long Port scheme would be included in its report.

‘The starting point is sewage treatment works. If the States decide not to go ahead with that, a lot of these proposals would fail, but not all of them,’ he said.

‘What I detected from colleagues was that there are some ideas they liked independently of everything else.’

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