Piquet House has often been left empty and unused since the States voted against its sale in 2014 following a proposition lodged by the Environment Minister John Young when he was a backbencher.
Concerns have been raised over the condition of the building, which is said to need renovations costing as much as £1 million.
The recently approved Government Plan outlined that £1.071 million would be allocated to redevelop the building in 2021, with a further £779,000 set aside for 2022.
The business case accompanying the expenditure says that Piquet House will be turned into a Family Court Centre.
It says: ‘The purpose of this project is to provide appropriate and modern facilities, closely located to the Royal Court Building, for hearings of the Family Court, by converting Piquet House into a Family Court Centre.
‘The existing facilities in the Royal Court Building are regarded as inadequate and arguably breach Article 6 of the Human Rights Convention (right to a fair trial).
‘They deny the opportunity to provide dignified and private surroundings for members of the public undergoing what will probably be the most stressful experience in their lives.
‘The requirements for a new Family Court Centre include the provision of two new court rooms, interview rooms and some administrative support offices.’
The business case adds that the improvement of the Island’s Family Court facilities was necessary to maintain its compliance with international standards, such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
‘The provision of modern and dedicated facilities for dealing with family and children cases will contribute significantly to Jersey’s profile and international reputation and attain a level of compliance which is unachievable within existing resources,’ it says.
‘It is well established that the long-term benefits of resolving family and children disputes swiftly and effectively results in the avoidance of socio-economic costs such as pain, suffering, trauma, fear, reduced quality of life, and damaged reputation and dignity.
‘As Piquet House is available for redevelopment and has the potential to meet current and future needs, this project is a perfect opportunity to provide a modern Family Court Centre which will meet the expectations of users well into the 21st century.’
