AMBITIOUS proposals by the Long Port Group to create a 16-acre ‘cyber-park’ in the north of the island are likely to have a mixed reception from islanders. It is, after all, a lot of land, especially in over-developed St Sampson’s, and, when’s all said and done, what actually is a cyber-park?

Residents in the Saltpans are, too, are likely to have reservations about what industrial fallout they face and the impact of the development, which envisages some buildings up to four storeys high.

While it will take the detail of the proposals to resolve any apprehensions that might exist, there is some comfort to be gained from what Long Port has already achieved in the island.

Chairman Charles Billson has a reputation for backing quality developments and what has been achieved by Long Port around the site of the former Royal Hotel leaves some other recent developments looking decidedly cheap.

Long Port has also been associated with some large regeneration projects in the UK which also suggest that its vision is sympathetically executed.

Perhaps as importantly, however, a quality technology park is what the island needs, particularly if it encourages other industries that are credible alternatives to finance.

What Guernsey’s wealth management sector has done, apart from creating well-paid jobs, is to enable a critical mass of lawyers, accountants and other service providers to become established, but on that single foundation.

With growth limited – for the first time in recent years more school leavers went into retail than into financial services – the need to diversify is acute.

The Guernsey Technology Park provides the potential for that to happen and, importantly, the project has been put together so that development is tailored for the right business. This is no speculative build of giant corrugated sheds.

The island’s existing infrastructure in resilient telecommunications and electricity plus inherent security and fiscal benefits mean that that park is ideally placed to capitalise on data storage, cloud computing and cyber commerce.

Providing long term, sustainable employment and income for the island is now something of a priority – and this development recognises that.