New Sustainable Seating on French Lane

two images of bench seating in front of the Central Market gates. The left image is a close up of wooden slats on the bench. The right image shows a full image of the bench sitting in front of the red gates of the market.

French Lane has received a makeover with the arrival of two new benches outside the entrance to the Central Market. These benches were commissioned by the Government of Jersey to be created by local collective Racc’moder using storm-felled timber. The benches represent a commitment to smart procurement and support for Jersey’s local circular economy. Read the story behind our French Lane benches.

Revitalising our markets:

In December 2024, the Minister for Sustainable Economic Development published Jersey’s Future-Fit Retail Roadmap, which identified development of Jersey’s traditional markets, and surrounding areas, as an action.

One of the bodies of research supporting the Retail Roadmap was 2022’s Jersey Markets Strategic Review which stated that “the market experience would be improved if more customer seating could be provided, both shared spaces as well as more seating internally and externally at kiosks”.

The review also stated that, while there was a definite need to revitalise the dated markets, their heritage features must be retained, and options for improving the markets should not depend upon compromising the historic fabric of the existing buildings.

The Retail Roadmap has also identified several key actions to improve the Island’s retail landscape, including (Action 18): “Develop a programme of activations and animations for the Central Markets to drive footfall, increase dwell time and drive community spirit”

Increasing the amount of communal al-fresco seating will allow Islanders to enjoy the market for longer periods of dwell time.

Preceding the new Retail Roadmap was GoJ’s Visitor Economy Strategy, which expressed the following as priorities:

  • “Ensuring on-island infrastructure is consistent with a high-quality visitor offering.”
  • “Addressing investment in the public realm, in particular St Helier, to ensure this enhances Jersey’s attractiveness.”

The Department for the Economy’s Local Economy team have been supporting several revitalisation projects in the Central Market, some of which are long term and will require more significant investment. While these two benches may seem like a small addition, small things count in enhancing the environment of the place. New al fresco seating can create a positive, tangible and immediate difference with a relatively low budget.

These new benches set a precedent for smart and thoughtful investment in Jersey’s retail infrastructure. The project presents an ideal standard for procurement as the Island progresses on its journey to a future-fit retail environment.

What is Racc’moder?

Racc’moder, “to mend”, or “bring back to life” in Jerriais, is taken from a time when the Island community was required to be much more resourceful and creative with the resources available to them. Racc’moder seeks to bring this philosophy back at a time when it is sometimes lost in our ‘throw away’ culture.

Jersey lost thousands of mature trees to Storm Ciaran’s high winds in November 2023. While it will take many decades to replenish the Island’s tree network, one local team is supporting a circular economy by putting these felled trees to good use.

Racc’moder is a collective that would like to see many things ‘Racc’modered’ innovatively with Jersey’s own resources. They have started by using Jersey’s storm-felled timber in projects for the Island, milling and processing all the wood locally.

Xanthe Hamilton and her team were tasked with creating two custom benches for French Lane and revitalising the ten existing market benches. They are also building a brand aesthetic for the Central Market’s future development, one which respects the market’s heritage and unique features. 

Storm-felled Holm Oak, collected from the timber pile at La Collette, was chosen for this project.

It is a wood known for both its strength and beautiful grain. Racc’moder’s Dan Davies milled and processed the tree into slats for the bench seating. Architect Josh Noad designed the bench using aesthetic elements from the Central Market as inspiration.

The shape of the market’s bevelled windows is echoed in the bevel of the bench legs and the wooden slats are reminiscent of the dentil cornice found throughout. The supporting structure was then crafted by local metalsmith Neil McKenzie and bent to fit within the curve of the market entrance. Finally, the legs were finished with a coat of Monarch Red paint, to match the market’s gates.  

Learn more about Racc’moder’s creation process at this link.

Supporting a circular economy:  

The Government of Jersey spending is subject to the rules of the Public Finance Manual, which outlines a commitment to the responsible stewardship of taxpayer money. It expresses the importance of considering social value in procurement, understanding that price is just one element when assessing value for money. 

Public spending should, wherever possible, consider wider social, economic and environmental benefits. Supporting a local circular economy through procurement has positive implications for the future of the Island. 

The concept of a circular economy has three main goals: 

-            Reduce the use of raw materials 
-            Reduce waste 
-            Reduce emissions 

Racc’moder achieves this by using local storm-felled timber that would otherwise go to waste. They design and produce their products sustainably, reducing any wastage of raw materials. They also mill and process their timber locally, reducing the carbon emissions which would have been created by importing it. Using a local team means that the benches are custom-made to celebrate and enhance the existing heritage features of the Central Market. 

Nurturing creative industries: 

The Creative Island Arts Strategy recognises that to ensure sustainable economic prosperity, Jersey needs to support its creative industries. The strategy is founded on four priority themes, two of which have been considered in the procurement of the French Lane benches: 

1. Arts, Environment and Place-Making: Good infrastructure will engage the work of creatives. It will interweave artistic excellence and innovation into the built environment. The Racc’moder team are a group of creative professionals who have demonstrated excellence in their approach to design and production. When local creatives are involved, vibrant community environments are created. 

2. Arts, Economic Prosperity and Inclusive Growth: Improving the environment in which creative industry businesses operate. This is aligned with GoJ’s Common Strategic Policy, which looks to “create a sustainable, vibrant economy and skilled local workforce”. Racc’moder is a shining example of achieving this priority. Their team are creating a profitable way for Islanders to buy better. By upskilling their team and introducing new production infrastructure to the Island, they are future-proofing themselves. 

Small project, big picture: 

The market benches on French Lane are a small change with big implications, a puzzle piece in the wider picture of Jersey’s sustainable future. The project represents how multiple governmental departments and third parties can come together to think differently about improving the Island for future generations. 

The Department for the Economy is committed to buying better and thinking more innovatively with procurement. As the Island moves towards a more sustainable future, there will be plenty more opportunities for collaboration. 

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