AMBITIOUS plans for a road tunnel under the waterfront could be realised without costing the public a penny, according to both the Environment Minister and the main developers.

Negotiations are now under way which could culminate in developers Harcourt picking up the multi-million pound bill for the civil engineering work in return for the extra buildings which could be developed if the underpass was to disappear. The deal could also see them funding the much-mooted National Gallery for Jersey under the new ‘percentage for art’ rules, which require major developers to fund public art. Sinking the road is key to the so-called Hopkins Masterplan – devised by esteemed British architect Sir Michael Hopkins – to link the waterfront with the old town. The extra land freed up by being able to build where the underpass currently is would also reduce pressure to build high and would mean that most development could be kept to six storeys or below.