LONG-awaited plans for the £30 million redevelopment of the Island Site are nearing completion for public exhibition in the spring.

The Waterfront Enterprise Board and development company Cool Waters hope the plans – which have been six years in the pipeline – will transform the former abattoir to something along the lines of London’s cosmopolitan Convent Garden area and will win the approval of Islanders and Planning.Once completed, the collection of cafés and restaurants and a transport centre in the historic buildings will be known as Liberation Place.WEB’s managing director, David Margason, said: ‘It has taken a long time for us to get to a point where we think we understand what the Island’s true aspirations are for this important site and to get a developer and private sector investors onboard who share that vision and are prepared to deliver it.’We’re confident that the public will not be disappointed with the results.

Liberation Place will be an attractive new public meeting place in town and will complement the wide range of activities being created across the St Helier waterfront development.’ Originally WEB hoped to submit the planning application late last year but that is now not expected to come about until late May.

Notwithstanding the latest delay in the saga of the site, they expect work to begin by the end of the year, with the transportation centre scheduled for completion first and the whole of the restoration and conversion of the historic buildings completed within two years.