The Merton Hotel in St Saviour, which is part of Seymour Hotels, was granted permission in June 2012 to build an indoor bowling alley and staff accommodation in the grounds of the Aquadome and leisure club complex on Belvedere Hill.
As the planning permit is about to expire, the group’s managing director, David Seymour, said that they were now seeking a three-year extension.
‘When the Planning Committee approved it in 2012 we were stuck in the middle of the recession and, quite frankly, all our investment had to go to other areas,’ he said. ‘The approval comes to an end in a couple of weeks’ time and if we don’t get approval to extend it, there will be no opportunity for us to do it in the future.’
While he said that he could not confirm exactly when the development would happen, Mr Seymour said it was a project that the business intended to undertake in the future.
At the heart of the development are two historic buildings, St Juste and La Fantaisie, which are two of only four examples of the cottage ornée architectural style left in the Island.
The style, which was popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, is reminiscent of ‘rustic’ and romantic stylised country cottages.
The hotel has approval to refurbish St Juste and demolish modern extensions as well as to build the bowling alley next to the historic building and also to restore La Fantaisie to create staff accommodation.
