Channel Islands Co-operative Society chief executive Jim Hopley, right, explains the Leale’s Yard plans to Monica and Alun Thomas. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0768617)

HUNDREDS of islanders took the opportunity to see the plans for Leale’s Yard yesterday.

Thirteen display boards were laid out in the Vale Douzaine Room. They showed how, if planning permission is granted, the site could be transformed to contain 170 new homes, a two-storey Co-op store and more than 14,000sq. m of retail space.

The display was not due to start until 12.30pm, but the first islanders started looking around at 10.30am.

Jim Hopley, chief executive of the Channel Islands Co-operative Society, which owns the site, said he was very pleased with the response.

‘People have been genuinely interested in the project and have been asking interesting questions. Some people came in negative about the plans, but many left much more positive.’

He felt the display gave people a better understanding of what the project is about.

Islanders also had to the chance to talk to the architects and the directors of the development company, Leale’s Yard Ltd.