Insights from our President, Lee Madden, October 2025

Every major ambition for Jersey be it tackling the housing shortage, delivering modern healthcare facilities, upgrading our schools, or sustaining our vital tourism infrastructure relies on a robust construction sector. Without it, none of these goals can be realised. Construction is the enabling industry upon which our Island’s future depends, and right now, it is at a crossroads.

The Chamber has been calling for decisive government action on stalled capital projects for over eighteen months. Despite some welcome efforts, such as streamlining planning and restoring trainee wages, these measures have not been enough. The sector continues to contract: employment is down by nearly 500 workers a nine per cent drop in just two years five major contractors have collapsed, and private sector demand has dried up. In this climate, public investment is the only lever available to restore confidence and capacity.

This is not just about bricks and mortar. The Government is the largest single client of the construction sector. A healthy, capable industry is as vital for Government as it is for the wider economy. Yet, we continue to see underspending, delays, and shifting priorities. Paper strategies cannot build homes, schools, or hospitals.

That is why the Chamber has written to the Chief Minister, urging immediate action. We have set out clear, practical recommendations covering planning reform, capital spending, confidence-building measures, and sector support. These are not new ideas; they are urgent necessities.

I am pleased to confirm that the Chief Minister has agreed to meet with the Chamber to discuss these recommendations in detail. This is a welcome step, but words must now be matched by visible action. The Chamber expects to see tangible progress and results by December 2025. Time has run out for delay. We need to turn strategy into shovels, paper into pounds, and promises into projects.

The Chamber and its members stand ready to work with Government to secure Jersey’s future. But we need leadership, commitment, and above all action. The Island’s ambitions depend on it as does the future of our own construction sector.