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States to buy Leale's Yard for £4.5m, Policy & Resources says

States to buy Leale's Yard for £4.5m, Policy & Resources says

BBC News16-07-2025
The States of Guernsey is set to buy the Leale's Yard site on The Bridge for £4.5m, the island's top political committee has said.Earlier this year, the States pulled out of a deal to spend about £35m on the project to support the Channel Islands Co-Op and developer Omnibus with the scheme. Omnibus had planned to build more than 300 new homes on the site, with outline planning permission for the project granted in 2023.In her first speech to the States, Policy and Resources President Lindsay de Sausmarez said: "This site is essential in terms of its strategic importance."
De Sausmarez stressed the importance of an improved traffic network in the area to facilitate the building of new housing. "The first priority is to improve the transport network in the area, both around and through the site, as that's crucial for its long-term success in addressing the traffic impact," she said."We are very keen to deliver the best mix of housing that the island needs, alongside other aspects that will support the regeneration of The Bridge, and won't waste any time in moving this forward."
Channel Islands Co-Op chief executive Marc Cox welcomed the decision."We are delighted to have reached an agreement with the States of Guernsey for them to purchase the substantial part of the Leale's Yard site," he said. "This agreement will enable the Co-op to focus on our core business, free of the distractions that a complex property development like Leale's Yard entails."The agreement will also see the States free to progress the delivery of much-needed new homes and employment opportunities for the island of Guernsey."
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