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The Jersey Buildings at Risk Register features ten local properties, which appear to have been neglected.

Most of the buildings have been vacant for a number of years.

The list includes the former Jersey College for Girls building, Waterworks Lodge in St Lawrence and Hope Villa in St Clement.

It's believed these properties are of crucial importance to the built heritage of the island.

Hope Villa in St Clement is one of the buildings in question, and owner Mike Mallett says his attempts to refurbish it have been delayed by the planning department.

Slow progress

Mr Mallet said: “Work has been stalled on several occasions. We have come across considerable structural problems, which we have referred to planning.

“One letter we sent identifying these problems took planning six months to reply to. We have been frustrated and unable to carry out the work.

“It is going at a very slow place which is affecting the cost of all the work.

“Planning is unwilling to compromise. I would have thought they could grant some aid towards these costs.”

The three groups supporting the classified list of buildings at risk are Save Jersey’s Heritage, National Trust for Jersey and Jersey Heritage. The groups are working in conjunction with the Planning department.

Mr Mallet said: “We feel aggrieved that the only advice Senator Cohen has taken on board is from the three groups that are pillorying us at the moment.

Senator Freddie Cohen

“If we can improve the building and put something back into the cultural environment then we are happy to do so. But it has to work both ways.”

Custodians

Planning and Environment minister Senator Freddie Cohen said he believed there were adequate checks and balances to protect Jersey’s heritage.

Senator Cohen said: “The owners of those buildings are effectively custodians of those buildings.

“It is undoubtedly more expensive to own and maintain a listed building, but regrettably the finances to assist owners of listed buildings are very limited.

“We only have £60 000 a year, which doesn’t go very far.”

Senator Cohen added it was unlikely his department would receive additional funds due to the current economic climate.

Senator Cohen said: “The problem is you are providing using tax payers’ money to improve privately-owned buildings without a payback.

“In my view that is justifiable, but others have a different take on it.

“I am sorry that Mr Mallet feels aggrieved, but I can’t accept that delays in the planning process have cost him money.

“His aspiration was to demolish a large part of the building, but unless he could prove it was so structurally unsound that it’s irrecoverable then I couldn’t morally approve his plans.”

Have your say

Should owners of listed buildings receive money to maintain them? Is it solely their responsibility? Are these buildings crucial to Jersey’s heritage, or should they be replaced by more modern designs?