Holiday homes ‘a vote of confidence’ for tourism

The Bosdet Foundation’s £13 million project – billed as the biggest tourism development in Jersey for a century when the plans were unveiled – was originally denied planning permission in November 2019, despite being recommended for approval by planning officers.

The Planning Committee refused the application due to concerns over the scale of the development proposed for Les Ormes’ green-zone site.

However, following an appeal, independent planning inspector Sue Bell recommended that consent be granted and said that there would be ‘environmental gains’ and ‘improved design and appearance of the land and buildings’.

She also said that the proposal, which is for 60 new self-catering units, would ‘neither alter the character of the site or have a discernible effect on the wider landscape character’. Work is now expected to begin in September. The project, which will see the existing tennis hall demolished, will take place in a ‘series of phases’ over six years while avoiding the busy summer seasons. Assistant Environment Minister Gregory Guida approved the appeal.

Ms Burns said: ‘The extra units will provide more capacity and diversity for Jersey’s accommodation offering, which puts the Island in a strong position to attract more visitors.

‘Recent trends show high growth in demand for self-catering, particularly in rural areas, and holiday rentals attracting younger, more family-oriented travellers. It also provides the opportunity to support the economy locally.

‘Continued investment in the industry during these challenging times is certainly a vote of confidence and very welcome news indeed.’

Mike Graham, general manager of the Bosdet Foundation, a charity which is funded by the Les Ormes operation and which supports other charitable organisations, said that the St Brelade development would prove a ‘world-class facility’. He added that the scheme would provide a ‘boost’ for the Island’s tourism industry while also helping the Bosdet Foundation to achieve its target of donating £1 million to the local community groups and organisations by 2030.

‘The project has a series of building blocks and we can’t do it all in one go, as it would be too disruptive,’ said Mr Graham.

‘Now with Covid it is also important that we go through it in planned, steady phases, so that we learn from the experiences. None of us know what is going to happen in the next two or three years, so we are going to have to learn and adapt as we go along.

‘Ultimately it’s working to a masterplan and I can’t understate how it changes the quality of Les Ormes for the decades ahead. It really means that Jersey will have a world-class facility.’

He added that the original cost estimate for the project was around £14 million.

Mr Graham said that the demand for self-catering units had been greatly accelerated by the Covid-19 pandemic, and that the number of bookings this year for July and August was already looking good.

‘People want more space; they want independence, freedom; they want the family environment – all the things about self-catering are spot on for the current world that we live in,’ he said.

‘The product that Jersey has as our natural environment is right for the future and we should be very confident as a sector.’