Plans For New JSPCA Hub

Thursday, 11 January 2024 12:33

Proposed design of new hub. Credit: Morris Architects

The JSCPA could soon have a new central hub for its rescued animals, if plans are approved.

The charity wants to demolish a number of buildings, including the dog kennels, on St Saviour's Road and build a new two-storey Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre.

Currently, care is spread across a number of buildings, which means officers spend 'valuable time' travelling.

Charity CEO, Debra D'Orleans explains what will happen once permission is granted.

"We have to demolish the buildings that are no longer fit for purpose, so there will be a period of moving equipment and animals to our main building.

This building will provide the flexibility that we need going forward and it will suit our seasons better.

We are currently dealing with exhausted sea birds because of the storms, and some are covered in oil. This building will have a dedicated oil bird unit to deal with these cases."

The charity had hoped to refurbish a building on the current estate, but engineers advised against it.

Debra says it has become a tight squeeze as the animals are moved elsewhere.

"We have accommodated them in the office and repurposed certain areas and coming into baby bird season that's when we really see the pressure on with the amount of birds we get coming through."

Jersey's planning processes have been under scrutiny in recent months, with an independent review labelling it as 'dysfunctional'.

This week, Environment Minister Deputy Jonathan Renouf said the majority of the 64 key actions to address the issues had been implemented.

Debra says she hopes the project can be fully completed by 2025

"They're saying three months for the planning applications to go through, it would be ideal if that went through quickly.

Then there is the demolition process which can take between three and five months, then usually the building process is a little bit quicker.

We're hoping it will be completed in a year to 18 months time."

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