A £10M project to link Creasey's on the High Street with the old HSBC bank gets underway today (3 July).
Creasey’s have been a part of Guernsey's high street since 1899. Since 2017 the business has been in talks with architects to expand the department store's size.
The Covid pandemic delayed work, but today (3 July 2023) Rihoy & Son have begun work to link the High Street shop with the old HSBC bank.
The contractors expect the project in the heart of St Peter Port to take three years.
Creasey’s managing director Mr Peter Creasey says he is confident such a sustainable investment will be worthwhile:
"The Creasey family has always taken every opportunity to reinvest in the business and the current directors are continuing to follow that path. In the mid-80s we extensively rebuilt our main premises at 15-19 High Street.
Today we are about to embark on an even more ambitious project, which will deliver stunning retail premises fit for the 21st century, complete with escalators, a lift and level floors throughout to make shopping as easy as possible for everyone.
It will be a complex and long job, but we will continue to trade as normally as possible throughout.
We have been planning this for such a long time and I can’t wait to get started."
New employment opportunities and an extended range of brands in stock are among the promised improvements.
Scaffolding will be put up after the Island Games. It will completely cover 13 High Street, the Quayside façade and part of the roof of 15 – 21 High Street. Once in place, demolition and rebuild of 13 High Street will begin.
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