New campsite at disused farm near St Ouen’s Bay?

Landowner James Simon (63) has applied to redevelop disused agricultural staff accommodation and associated land to provide space for campers and caravanners.

If the plans are approved, the campsite would be created on Field 248 off Rue de Val de la Mare du Sud, near Mont à la Brune, and would provide 23 pitches for campers or visitors with motor homes.

The 1,671 sq m plot once contained housing for agricultural workers, but has not been used for years. Mr Simon said that the building had come to be used as a storage unit, but that he had spent the last 18 months clearing it out. He is hoping that the campsite could become a family business that his children could run.

Landowner James Simon wants to build a campsite on the land

‘What we are planning to provide affordable camping throughout the year and to host visitors through the peak season,’ Mr Simon said.

‘We’ve been out of farming for goodness knows how many years and the property has sat there doing nothing. We thought this was a good opportunity to do something in a nice area.

‘I know it’s within the Coastal National Park, but you go round the world and in different national parks they have campsites.

‘We’ve been knocking this around for about a year or so. It will be interesting to see who writes in favour of the scheme and who writes against it and the reasons why.’

In order to submit the planning application, Mr Simon first had to advertise the plot in case another company or individual wanted to use the land for agricultural or commercial purposes. However, after four months of marketing the site, the family had had no inquiries about the land.

The land used to be agricultural

Mr Simon, who has two sons and two daughters, said that having a dedicated area for motor homes would also ease the congestion seen at beach-side car parks in St Ouen’s Bay.

He said: ‘I counted 36 motor homes at Le Port car park last weekend. We’ve had family and friends to stay and everybody always turns round and says you ought to try to do something there on your land. I’m on the point of retirement and the girls were keen to give this a bash.’

So far the plans have received written support from one Islander and no objections.

The plans for the campsiteWhere the field is located in St Peter

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