Cost of sixth form centre set to double to £50m

The construction of a sixth form centre and sports facilities in Guernsey is expected to cost twice as much as previously estimated, the education committee has said.

Deputy Sam Haskins said the initial projected cost of the development at Les Ozouets was £24m in 2022/2023 but had now risen to "circa £40 - 50m".

Rising inflation, increasing material and staff costs were cited as contributing factors to the change in the estimate, along with the States' decision to delay the project.

Mr Haskins said the committee was not "requesting the money at this time" and there was no set date to start the development.

The costs were attributed to "phase two" of the Les Ozouets project, which included a sixth form centre, sports building, outdoor multi use games area and a horticulture building.

Mr Haskins said: "It is important to note that at this time [2022/2023] these costs were not 'market tested' and did not include contingency.

"New estimated projected costs have increased to circa £40 - 50m.

"This is entirely predictable considering that all known costs are now included within the updated figures and that we are estimating into the future assuming completion in 2029; seven years after the initial estimate."

He said that separating the project into two phases and delaying work "as explained during the funding debate" would increase costs significantly.

"Phasing the work means the efficiencies of all the work happening at once are lost, and we have needed to build additional contingencies into the costs," Mr Haskins added.

"Ultimately, the States' decision to delay and phase the works has caused the estimated increase in the overall project.

"With that said, however, these are just estimated costs.

"This is not a project we are starting at a set date, it is not something the Committee is requesting the money for at this time, and the plans will return to the States next term before any work is begun."

Deputy Mark Helyar, former treasurer of the policy and resources committee, said he was "not really surprised" at the change in estimate.

He said: "When you think of the amount by which the hospital's gone up and the Alderney runway has gone up... pretty much every project that we're doing at the moment we seem to be unable to get a decent estimate on costs."

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