A FORMER St Aubin restaurant could become a shop with self-catering accommodation and a permanent home under plans arguing that retaining its restaurant use is no longer commercially viable.
The application for Seafish, on Le Boulevard at The Bulwarks, proposes replacing the ground-floor restaurant with retail space, converting guest accommodation into two self-catering apartments and creating a third holiday unit in an existing office.
Staff accommodation at the rear would become an unrestricted two-bedroom home, while redundant restaurant equipment would be removed to make way for improved outdoor space.
Documents submitted by Origin Architecture Studio say attempts to secure a future for the restaurant have been unsuccessful.
“The property has been marketed, but a viable continuation of the restaurant use has not been secured,” an accompanying assessment states.
The case for the changes argues that a shop could accommodate a wider range of businesses and respond more readily to changing demand from Islanders and visitors.
Possible uses outlined include local produce, artwork, crafts, souvenirs, coffee and cold-food sales, alongside visitor services and activity bookings.
These are potential options rather than a confirmed business proposal, and would depend on the activities permitted within the retail planning category.
“The proposal therefore seeks to ensure that the ground-floor commercial space remains actively useful and economically viable, rather than preserving restaurant use as an end in itself,” the design statement says.
The architects argue that the scheme would retain the property’s main commercial role while providing an additional permanent home and improving its established tourism accommodation.
Planning permission granted in November 2015 allowed a restaurant and home-delivery service with two self-catering apartments. According to the application, work began and that permission remains valid.
The latest proposals would also remove the commercial kitchen and associated extraction equipment and machinery.
The documents argue that this would reduce deliveries, servicing and other restaurant-related activity, while freeing roof space for a terrace serving holiday accommodation.
An occupancy assessment estimates that the proposed combination of residents, visitors, retail staff and customers would accommodate fewer people overall than the previous restaurant, takeaway and accommodation arrangement.
Changes to the building’s main frontage would be limited, with its existing window arrangement retained. Roof and dormer repairs are also proposed.
Following concerns raised during pre-application discussions about overlooking neighbouring property, the rear first-floor terrace has been restricted in size. The architects say an existing projecting wall would also help protect neighbours’ privacy.
The documents report that planning officers considered the development potentially acceptable in principle, subject to amendments.
The site is within a medium coastal flood-risk area, and the application identifies the need to address flood risk and drainage. Parking, cycle storage and an electric-vehicle charging point are also proposed.
