Construction work is complete on the final stage of Guernsey’s Admiral Park development, with tenants settling into the new Plaza House office space.

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The 67,000 sq ft grade A office is now the centrepiece of Admiral Park, with a principal entrance leading directly from the main plaza.

 

The £43m project is the culmination of more than two decades of investment in the area by Channel Islands firm Comprop CI Ltd. The total project cost for the most recent phase of Admiral Park, including the Premier Inn, Good Rebel restaurant, No 1 The Plaza and the multi storey carpark, is c.£80m (including the site value and infrastructure works to the roads, drainage and utilities).

 

Managing director Steve Marie said he was delighted to see the Admiral Park project complete in such style: “Comprop has been developing Admiral Park for more than 20 years, and Plaza House is a fitting conclusion to the project. Not only has its design been carefully considered to visually benefit the area, it’s the most advanced building of its type in the island. We wanted to make a significant contribution to Guernsey’s built environment and we hope to have set a new standard with this.”

 

That new standard is the project’s BREEAM rating, which recognises the building’s environmental sustainability. Plaza House is the first building in Guernsey to receive the accreditation. It is an attractive feature for tenants looking to improve their ESG (environmental, social and governance) rating through an environmentally sustainable building.

 

Local firm Rihoy & Son was the main contractor for the project. Their involvement with the site stretches back to the initial building of the Checkers (now Waitrose) store and B&Q. Chair Gavin Rihoy was therefore delighted to bring the project to completion: “It’s been a hugely successful project for Rihoy’s and for the island. While the build faced challenges along the way, including a significant weather-related delay during the winter, the team pulled together admirably to meet all the major deadlines on time and on budget. We’re tremendously proud to have been involved in the delivery of this final phase of Admiral Park. The investment Comprop has made, and the confidence it has shown in the island, will have far-reaching benefits for Guernsey.”

 

Comprop worked closely with architects Lovell Ozanne and Guernsey’s Planning Service to develop the scheme. Chartered architect Andrew Merrett has been involved with the project team since developing the design for Trafalgar Court in 1999. For him, it was important that Plaza House not only had architectural merit in its own right, but that it tied into the rest of the scheme: “There are references within the design to other buildings on the site, and we have used similar materials throughout all stages of the development to connect the buildings to each other. The highquality materials on Plaza House, including natural stone, glass and steel finishes, are fitting for a building of this calibre. Additionally, the design included significant areas of glazing to ensure those using the building have a pleasant office environment. We want the building to be enjoyed on the outside and the inside.”

 

While the majority of Plaza House was pre-let to tenants prior to completion, there is some space remaining in this prestigious development. Managing director of Watts Property Consultants, Jo Watts, has been responsible for marketing the property. For her, the development has been a success on many levels: “The market has received it extremely positively, which shows there was clearly a need for this type of high-quality office space in the island.

 

Having these facilities supports the island’s finance sector and helps promote Guernsey’s reputation. But beyond that, the Admiral Park development has wide-ranging benefits for the island and economy as a whole. It’s created jobs; it’s supported the tourist industry; and it’s given a successful new venue to the hospitality industry. Comprop’s investment in the island will have benefited the economy in so many significant areas.”

 

As well as the economy, it’s hoped that the development will benefit the islanders who live, work or socialise in the area. Andrew Ullyott of Jason Powers Consultants has been involved with project managing the development team throughout the build. For him, it’s been a hugely successful assignment:

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“I get a real satisfaction from creating spaces for people to live and work in. This development has created a new destination for islanders and visitors and the difference it has made to the area has been significant. It’s one of the most satisfying projects I’ve completed in my career, helped by the fact it came in on time and on budget. That wouldn’t have happened without a very strong project team who all pulled together to ensure it was a success.”

Andrew Ullyott of Jason Powers Consultants

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Steve also recognised the strength of the team behind the project: “The whole process of completing this site has been a collaborative one between the Comprop team and the contractor. Our core team of Lovell Ozanne, Jason Powers Consultants, Tillyard Quantity Surveying and Watts Property Consultants has worked very closely with main contractor Rihoy & Son to ensure the successful outcome of the project. A project of this size always has challenges but the approach taken by all involved was to work together to find solutions, with an excellent end result.”

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About the development

 

The Admiral Park Plaza site now features two significant office buildings – No 1 The Plaza and the flagship Plaza House. Alongside those, the development includes the 100-bedroom Premier Inn hotel, restaurant Good Rebel, a multi-storey carpark, 64 secure covered cycle spaces and an amenity space featuring a petanque court.

 

Work started on Plaza House in 2022, completing in the summer of 2024.

 

The project team has stayed constant throughout the various stages of the build, with main contractor Rihoy & Son working alongside architect Lovell Ozanne and Comprop’s project managers, Jason Powers Consultants. All property marketing was undertaken by Watts Property Consultants.

M&E services were provided by Henderson Green, quality control by Brian Livesey, and quantity surveying by Tillyard.

 

Internal design was led by Waddington, while Blue Sky Office completed the lobby and furniture fit outs.

 

Banking services were provided by RBSI for the project, and Collas Crill was responsible for all legal advice.

 

About Comprop

 

Channel Islands based Comprop has been a leading property developer in Guernsey and Jersey for decades. The small, highly-experienced in-house team works with a carefully chosen range of professionals on each project to ensure the success of the scheme.

 

Aside from the substantial Admiral Park development, Comprop recently completed the St James’ Place office development, while previous projects include Glategny Court, Carey House and Generali. Residential developments in the island have included Havelet Waters, Vega Apartments and Clifton Heights.

 

About BREEAM

 

The Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) was established in 1990, and has issued more than half a million BREEAM certificates since that time. Certification can be issued to new constructions, in-use buildings, or refurbishment or fit-out projects.

 

Plaza House is the first Guernsey building to be BREEAM accredited, with a ‘very good’ rating for the build.

 

Assessors have applied the BREEAM rating system to the building to assess its green credentials across nine core areas including energy, health and wellbeing, materials, management, land use and ecology, pollution, transport, waste and water.

 

You can find more information about the certification requirements and process at www.breeam.com