THANKS to the first major decision taken by the newly constituted States Assembly, the Jersey Development Company – heir to the Waterfront Enterprise Board – will be charged with overseeing the transformation of the Esplanade site.

If yesterday’s vote represented new Members’ first chance to reach a decisive conclusion of great importance to the Island, it also paved the way for the new quango and its new chief executive to prove that they are up to the job of enhancing an area adjacent to the so-far deeply unimpressive St Helier Waterfront.

The scale of the Esplanade plan has been reduced, but the prominence and importance of the site remain as they were. And although the idea that development would involve turning the underpass road into a tunnel has been dropped, this remains an ambitious project. It is, moreover, about to be launched in times which are still economically very uncertain.

It is clear, therefore, that the Jersey Development Company faces a significant challenge. In addition, those States Members who voted against delaying development run the risk of a ‘we told you so’ moment if, ultimately, there is too little demand for the new facilities that are now planned.

That said, the assurance that developers’ money rather than public funds will be at risk is comforting from the public’s point of view, though, on the basis of previous failures, there will still be doubts about the ability of all those concerned to deliver buildings and spaces of genuine merit.

There is, meanwhile, a further factor which could complicate and even prejudice the whole business of developing the Esplanade site. Private developers are eager to launch a large-scale project, known as J1, between Broad Street and Commercial Street.

It is, of course, possible that economic resurgence will produce enough demand for both developments. Unfortunately, it would seem equally possible that recovery at a sufficient level will not occur within an acceptable period. Clearly, the second scenario would be problematical for both the private developers and any scheme on the publicly owned Esplanade area.

Very few matters are cast-iron certainties in either public administration or private enterprise and if no risks are taken nothing profitable can be achieved. In spite of this, there will be many anxious moments ahead for a good many people as the Esplanade project unfolds and if those behind the J1 plans can proceed as they wish.