A major independent public survey commissioned by the Jersey Development Company on behalf of the Government of Jersey, has revealed overwhelming support for the proposed transformation of Fort Regent, with nearly 90% of respondents expressing satisfaction with the plans.
Conducted by independent research company 4insight, the survey captured feedback from more than 6,000 islanders and visitors, including students from all secondary schools. It represents the highest response rate ever recorded for a survey of this nature in Jersey and provides the most extensive public feedback on any similar survey to date.
The research explored community perceptions of the proposals to regenerate Fort Regent into a vibrant, all-weather destination for leisure socialising, entertainment and recreation.
Key findings
- 89% of respondents aged 16 and over said they were satisfied with the proposed new activities
- Among younger islanders (aged 11–16) satisfaction rose to 94%
- 94% of surveyed visitors to the Island also reported satisfaction with the plans.
Respondents rated individual features on a scale of 1 (extremely dissatisfied) to 10 (extremely satisfied), reflecting strong support across the board.
Internal features were especially well received:
- Proposed Concert Hall – 8.7
- Restaurants, cafés, and bars – 8.1
- Ninja Play, Sky, Climb and Boulder – 8.0
- Cinema – 8.0
- Art, culture and events – 7.9
- Arcade and Battle Café style games – 7.9
- Ten-Pin Bowling – 7.7
- Gaming and Esports – 7.2
External features also received high ratings:
- Roof bar and restaurant – 8.0
- Landscaped gardens – 8.0
- Ball Court & Teenage Zone – 7.7
- Feature Lighting – 7.5
- Play and Heritage Trail – 7.4
- Entrance Building – 7.4
- Skatepark – 7.0
- Running Track – 6.9
- Pump Track – 6.8
- Nursery – 6.3
- Conference/Spa Hotel – 6.2
Priorities and suggestions
Improving accessibility was highlighted as a key priority, with 98% of respondents agreeing that better links from town to Fort Regent are important. Many respondents — particularly younger islanders — expressed enthusiasm for the proposed cable car link. 91% of respondents said they would use a cable car, with 83% of these confirming they’d be willing to pay for the experience.
An open-ended question invited further suggestions for the site’s future. The most requested new feature was a swimming pool (8%), followed by calls to retain existing sports facilities (5%). Other ideas included a roller-skating rink, go-kart track, and casino (2%), as well as a waterpark, nightclub, padel courts and a ski slope (each c.1%).
Lee Henry, JDC CEO said: “This is an overwhelming response from the community and we look forward to working with Government on advancing the regeneration of the Fort so that it once again delivers significant all-weather amenities for Islanders and Visitors.
“Presentations were given to almost 2,000 secondary school students and the feedback was extremely positive with fewer than 5% using the Fort today and virtually all confirming that they would regularly use the regenerated Fort if this vision was delivered.”
Dorothy Parker, CEO of 4insight said: “This was one of the largest and most inclusive public engagement projects ever conducted in Jersey. The results show strong, broad-based support, and we took care to ensure the survey was impartial, representative, and methodologically robust.”
