The gifting of the former Seaside Café site at Grève de Lecq to the National Trust for Jersey (the Trust) was officially recorded in Jersey’s Royal Court on Friday 24th January 2025.
To celebrate this occasion the Trust has erected a new sign on the building and unveiled an ornamental clay work platter. The platter has been created from elements of sculpture created by dozens of Islanders who attended the Beachworks workshops which were held in August as part of the Trust’s public consultation about the future vision for the site.
Mr Alan Le Maistre, CEO of the National Trust for Jersey, said: “The Trust would like to take this opportunity to thank the Government of Jersey and the people of Jersey for entrusting us with the care of this important Island landmark. Having now completed our public consultation, the time is also now right to give an update on the results and our future plans for the site”.
3,291 people took part in the public survey and after data cleaning 2,683 responses were included in the final dataset. An additional 300 people took part in a 2-day beachworks clay-based public workshop at the former café site with 242 people participating in interviews.
Alan explained: “The Trust understands the public importance and sensitivity surrounding this site (particularly relating to the carpark) and we have listened carefully to what people would like to see.
“Over the next few months, we will be appointing a design team to help us create a shared vision for the site which reflects the key outcomes of the consultation. This includes retaining the car park and free parking, creating disabled access to the promenade, providing a family-friendly food & beverage offering and creating facilities to support marine sports”.
Given the conditions attached to the site, (to deliver social, cultural and environmental benefits) the Trust is very keen to increase biodiversity in the bay and to create enhanced habitats in the duneland, particularly for green lizards. It will also look to support and encourage public, environmentally friendly, and more active forms of transport to the bay, with provisions such as bike storage, shower facilities, and charging stations for e-bikes and electric vehicles.
As part of the survey the public was asked if they wanted the Trust to restore the site to nature, create a new building, or repurpose and upcycle the existing infrastructure.
Only a few people wanted it to be returned to nature, the preferred choice of the public being to retain and upcycle the existing buildings. This aligns with the Trust’s own preferred choice, with it being evidently more sustainable to recycle and re-use existing infrastructure and materials wherever possible, rather than add to the overflowing landfill in the island. It is also important for the Trust that it demonstrates best practice in conserving, enhancing and finding new utility for the historic buildings on the site.
The original farmhouse and WWII infrastructure have heritage value that warrants protection, whilst the building is nostalgic for many islanders. The Trust’s plans will also include aesthetic enhancements to help the building fit more suitably into the surrounding environment.
Alan concluded: “Our aim will be to create a multi-purpose community hub which acts as a gateway to the North Coast, supporting and promoting Jersey marine conservation efforts and the broader work of the Trust. We hope to create a shared space that benefits many stakeholders and everyone who loves the bay. It is hoped that work will commence in 2026 with plans made available to the public in Summer 2025”
In the meantime, the Trust will continue to host a programme of events and activities as it has done so successfully over the last nice months. This programme will include summer concerts, regular craft and artisan markets, art and photography exhibitions, pop up food stalls and a mobile sauna. Anyone interested in hosting an event or making use of the space is invited to get in touch with the Trust.
