a vision for the future - government of jersey · rediscovering fort regent: a vision for the...

A VISION FOR THE FUTURE PUBLISHED: 12TH SEPTEMBER 2014

REDISCOVERING FORT REGENT: A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

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FOREWORDThe future of Fort Regent currently stands at a critical crossroads.

Do we carry on along the same road without significant investment and possibly, as a result, partially manage the decline of this unique facility and a great island asset? Or, do we take this opportunity to create and deliver a new vision for Fort Regent that makes it an exciting attraction for islanders, visitors and a destination that will be well-used by the Island community?

In the pages that follow, we set out a high-level vision for the future of Fort Regent that we believe to be cohesive and exciting, and addresses the problems and challenges that need to be overcome in a practical way.

The proposals produced by the HOK Team are based on their understanding of the aims and challenges set out in the Rediscovering Fort Regent document and informed by their experience of working with similar facilities and activities elsewhere.

These proposals now need to be examined, understood and tested to calculate whether the plans are deliverable and affordable from a capital cost and funding perspective, and are capable of meeting the public’s aspirations and increasing usage of Fort Regent, which will ultimately determine its success or failure.

We also need to understand whether private sector partners can be encouraged to invest and provide activities at a regenerated Fort Regent and how the facilities will be operated and managed.

Testing of these proposals will be undertaken, and while high-level costings have been produced, they are currently being further developed.

This document is part of the testing process.

There are a number of challenges still to face and the Steering Group’s next steps seek to develop a detailed Business Case in order to secure funding in the 2016-2019 Medium Term Financial Plan.

In presenting these proposals, the Fort Regent Regent Steering Group would very much welcome your views.

Deputy Eddie Noel Assistant Minister for Treasury and Resources Chairman of Fort Regent Steering Group12th September 2014

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BACKGROUNDThis Steering Group published their document ‘Rediscovering Fort Regent’ in November 2013, setting out the challenges that need to be faced in developing a vision for the future of Fort Regent. http://www.gov.je/Leisure/FortRegent/Pages/AboutFortRegent.aspx

The overarching aim is for Fort Regent to become a successful, multifunctional sporting, leisure, entertainment, arts and cultural facility for the Island community and visitors alike by maximising its potential catchment numbers to create a ‘virtuous circle’.

There is no single solution to reinvigorate Fort Regent. What is needed is a series of combined activities and actions to ensure ongoing viability.

ONGOING INVESTMENT IN FACILITIES

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PROVIDE FACILITIES

CUSTOMERS WANT

2USAGE INCREASES

3VIABILITY INCREASES

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A key focus of the Steering Group was to undertake an engagement process with stakeholders to determine what facilities the public would like to see and use at Fort Regent.

PUBLIC AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENTPublic focus groups were conducted using 4insight. Consisting of 11 focus group meetings over a two week period. These were made up from a range of socio-demographics, ages, ethnicity, employment, including users and non-users to understand issues relating to Access, Facilities and Activities. Engagement also took place with a range of stakeholder groups.

INFORMATION GATHERINGParsons Brinckerhoff undertook an ‘Access Demand Study’ in conjunction with Fort Regent and Transport & Technical Services, aimed at improving access to encourage and support increased usage.

We have undertaken work with POMA, a leading provider of cable cars and funicular systems. However, it was evident that these systems would be too costly to implement, maintain and operate and would not be efficient in terms of moving people to and from Fort Regent effectively. The engineering challenges also posed significant planning concerns.

On this basis, other options have been considered and brought together for review. Upon gathering this information, we needed to develop a vision to inform and support a Business Case to secure funding for the regeneration of Fort Regent.

DEVELOPING THE VISIONEarlier this year, a formal tender process began to appoint a locally-led, multidisciplinary team that would address the challenges relating to improving access, creating additional space, reconfiguration and refurbishment of internal spaces,increasing activity and the development of commercial opportunities at Fort Regent.

As a result of this process, a team was created by Ross-Gower Associates and Page Architects including Tillyards, WSP, IPW and HOK Architects (The HOK Team), with the intention of producing a briefing document and pre-feasibility vision report.

PROGRESS

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General perceptions about Fort

Regent

“It’s really tired and depressing; the lighting

is dreadful, feels like you are walking into an abyss. Nothing to

encourage me to walk in or come back”

Needs brightening up, and a renovation of both

interior and exterior

Access problems were spontaneously

mentioned in all groups

Across all groups respondents agreed

that the architecture is beautiful and iconic

Currently too sports orientated, and

therefore may exclude a significant number of

people

It is one of the first things that new

people to the island notice, however it was perceived that there is little to entice them up

there

The marketing of Fort Regent needs improvement and resources, many

respondents commented that they felt there was more

going on there that they were not aware of

“We are not all sporty, if you only aim Fort

Regent at sporty people you are cutting out 40%

of the population. It used to be about fun and leisure it wasn’t

always so sport focused, now you can’t go if you

aren’t sporty”

FEEDBACK


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H

G

F

EXTERNAL ZONES

HOTEL ZONE

CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION / EVENT / SPORT

ARTS AND CULTURE ZONE & PIAZZA

ACTIVE ZONE1. Gym2. Gymastics3. Pool Zone

FAMILY ZONE

TEENAGE / EXTREME SPORTS ZONE

The proposal from The HOK Team addresses key challenges in a comprehensive and coherent way and introduces the concept of a series of ‘Activity Zones’ at Fort Regent.

The key areas of proposed development:

Key themes running throughout the proposals include the creation of further usable space and how to use it more effectively, while celebrating and promoting the historic nature of Fort Regent by optimising the use of core materials and its original features.

Based on feedback, the Steering Group believes that public expectations have been met to create a viable, sustainable future for Fort Regent.

THE VISION ITSELF

A ACCESS1. Improved access from Snow Hill2. Improved access from Pier Road3. New Main Entrance

E

D

C

B

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A

ACCESS

A

AB

TEENAGE / EXTREME SPORTS ZONE

B

E

EXTERNAL ZONES

E

D

ACTIVE ZONE

D

G

CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION / EVENT / SPORT

G

C

FAMILY ZONE

C

F

ARTS & CULTURE ZONE AND PIAZZA

F

H

HOTEL ZONE

H

F


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IMPROVED ACCESS FROM SNOW HILLImproved access from the town has consistently been raised as an issue. The proposal is to introduce two 24-person lifts from Snow Hill linking to a Skyway and Viewing platform.

This can be built in a way that will not only improve access to Fort Regent, but has the added benefit of opening up access to the ramparts and external gardens, allowing for the development of a linear park.

The Skyway proposal, incorporating elements of glass flooring to create an ‘experience’ enhanced by the effective use of lighting, would create a new attraction that will be highly visible and provide a spectacular walk and jogging trail for local people.

It is expected that build, operation and maintenance will be publicly funded, with opportunities for sponsorship.

A1

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A more effective system and better linkage to the Pier Road car park would provide significantly improved access for the disabled and families with children/pushchairs.

It may be possible to relocate the Official Analyst’s Department to create a more ‘fit-for-purpose’ building, using the resulting site to improve the experience. It would also allow the access point to Fort Regent to be highly visible from the Liberation Square area, actively promoting it to visitors and clearly ‘signposting’ how to get there.

IMPROVED ACCESS FROM PIER ROAD

A2


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NEW MAIN ENTRANCEProposals include creating a new main entrance, which would provide a more dramatic sense of arrival and link directly into the newly refurbished piazza.

A3

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TEENAGE/ EXTREME SPORTS ZONEProposed activity in this area includes provision for extreme sports, beginner, intermediate and advanced skateboarding areas, a sports cage and refurbishment of the old café building to include youth activities.

Access would primarily be from Snow Hill and the Skyway. Options to provide cover for the skateboard parks is also being considered.

This would release the area of the current skateboard park on the New North Quay, for alternative use.

Infrastructure and on-going maintenance costs would be publically funded but that there may be opportunities to utilise sponsorship.

B


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FAMILY ZONEThis zone would see the relocation of the Play Zone from its current site in the Piazza along with the relocation of the Nursery into a two or three-floor building. An external play area would also be created with an opportunity to create crèche facilities.

Increased space would also provide an opportunity for additional operators to expand the offering in terms of attractions and facilities, with the majority of the build cost covered by rental income.

It is anticipated that the buildings in this zone would be provided by the public but that the actual facilities and equipment in this zone would continue to be provided and operated by the private sector.

C

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GYMCurrent use of gym facilities is growing, particularly through the Health Referral Programme, and demand is likely to grow further.

The proposal is to create a purpose-built gym with treatment and massage rooms in a new three-floor building with an enhanced layout and improved lighting, heating/cooling. The gym would have a pedestrianised roof-scape and be located in proximity to the new access from Snow Hill and the Skyway, enabling faster access from central St. Helier.

A better facility presents the opportunity to increase membership and therefore income, while energy and maintenance costs could be reduced by the use of current building technologies.

D1


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GYMNASTICS D2

Following the reprovision of the current gym, an opportunity exists to relocate the existing gymnastics facility with a permanent area. This could incorporate trampolining and foam pits.

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POOL ZONED3

There are fond memories of the swimming facilities at Fort Regent, with a desire to see a swimming pool return.

These proposals include consideration for a 25 metre pool, a learner pool and a hydrotherapy pool adjacent to the new gym facilities, which will each need to be evaluated as part of the Business Case. In evaluating these proposals for ‘wet’ sport at the Fort, we will have to consider carefully whether the island needs an additional publically funded 25 metre pool.


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EXTERNAL ZONESThe proposal incorporates more attractions to increase regular usage, such as a Rampart Loop/multi-purpose park consisting of a sculpture trail, trim trail, running circuit, performance spaces, sheltered zones and using Glacis Field as a temporary event space.

A café could sit between the Active/Gym Zone and the Family Zone, while an opportunity exists to provide a restaurant/bar overlooking St Aubin’s Bay.

Opportunities for commercial investment in the café and restaurant facilities would also generate an income stream for Fort Regent, alongside benefactor/sponsorship opportunities related to the multipurpose park. Other public areas are likely to be provided, maintained and managed by the Public.

E

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ARTS AND CULTURE ZONE & PIAZZAOptions for this area include a covered public square (of similar size to Liberation Square), temporary and permanent gallery space, curatorial space, a theatre, participation/performance space, café, and environmental space and storage.

A key benefit to this public open space is that it would be a covered, self- contained area and therefore more widely available to the public outside of the opening hours of the other activities at Fort Regent. For example, the Piazza could also be used for a range of temporary events and activities such as Ice Skating.

Whilst it is expected that this zone would be publicly funded, there are commercial opportunities to rent various rooms that surround the Piazza as galleries, crafts and food and beverage outlets. Meanwhile, the moving of existing arts and community facilities may free-up land that could create a commercial opportunity.

F


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CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION/EVENT/SPORTThe proposal is to provide multipurpose halls capable of providing a 2,000 seat arena/auditoria, breakout and VIP spaces and 2,000 square metres of exhibition space. This would be a ‘fit-for-purpose’ facility with appropriate sound proofing, acoustics and IT systems appropriate for concert and sporting ‘arena’ events as well as conferencing.

This flexible facility would significantly reduce the time currently taken to prepare the Gloucester Hall and Queens Hall before and after events and would not adversely impact on other sports activities.

A proposal to reduce the number of columns supporting the Queens Hall structure and roof from the current 96 to 5 is currently being tested with high-level cost estimates produced including an assessment as to what percentage of the build cost is likely to be offset by increased commercial activity.

G

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HOTEL ZONEThe proposal is for a hotel, of up to 120 beds, on the current disused Swimming Pool site.

Further work is being undertaken and the project team is in discussions with specialists in this field to determine what type of hotel offering is the most appropriate and who the best operators might be. This consideration will also include consideration of self-catering and aparthotel options.

H

Education, Sport and Culture

Thank you for taking the time to read this document.We welcome your feedback, please get in touch and let us know your thoughts about the proposed future for Fort Regent.

Deputy Eddie NoelAssistant Minister for Treasury and [email protected]

Deputy Rod BryansAssistant Minister for Education, Sport and [email protected]

Deputy Roy Le HérissierAssistant Minister for Education, Sport and [email protected]

@fortregent/RediscoveringFortRegent

www.gov.je/thefort [email protected]

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