A quarter of government-owned buildings have 'major defects'

Friday, 19 April 2024 16:58

A quarter of Jersey government-owned buildings have been found to have major defects or have been graded in 'poor' condition.

The 'State of the Estate' report shows only 2% of 'operational buildings' were rated excellent.

Around a third (32%) were judged to be good or in above-average condition, but the majority (40%) were showing 'average deterioration' though 'still in acceptable condition.'

19% were has 'major defects, and further 7% were considered to have significant wear, damage or dysfunction.

A break-down by category shows that arts venue and sports facilities have amongst the highest proportion of maintenance concerns.

There are 867 sites in the government's estate, with 270 classed as 'operational land and buildings'. The total value of the estate is more than £1 billion.

Jersey Property Holding's maintenance budget for 2023 was £7 million. More than 70% of the total spend went on repairs and upgrades to schools and health facilities last year.

The report says the total budget for upkeep has fallen by £5m in real terms over the past decade, and has been further squeezed last year by soaring inflation that pushed up the cost of materials, transport and construction.

The report highlights a 'significant maintenance backlog', beyond the current budget, and says Ministers will need to address how that is funded in future Government Plans.