AN exhaustive investigation and Scrutiny inquiry has been promised to ensure that the right developer gets the contract for the £350-million Esplanade Quarter site.

Treasury Minister Terry Le Sueur has today given further assurances that Irish-based developers Harcourt will have to meet all the necessary financial and contractual conditions before the States make the final decision on the multi-million-pound contract.

It follows concerns expressed by Senators Ben Shenton and Jim Perchard, a former director of the Waterfront Enterprise Board, that the project and development deal would be ‘railroaded’ through the States.

An independent group called the Esplanade Quarter Review Panel has now been set up to scrutinise the process and Senator Perchard will sit on this group along with Deputies Sarah Ferguson and Ian Gorst. Senator Le Sueur says he will only present a report to the States if he decides that the final deal is satisfactory.

• Picture: A model of the Esplanade Quarter