DISUSED buildings within a St Ouen farmstead dating back to the 1400s could be converted into six self-catering visitor units – if permission is granted.
The plans for La Robeline, on Rue de la Robeline, have received strong support from the government’s tourism regulation team, who say that the scheme would ‘generate much-needed income’ for the struggling industry in an area which continues to see ‘more and more demand’.
Meanwhile, within documents attached to the planning application, architects Axis-Mason say that the property’s owner was a ‘vocal advocate’ of retaining as much of the character and original fabric as possible during the design process.
In its plans, the company added that there were a number of modern additions to some of the grade-two listed properties, such as corrugated metal panelling, that detract from the buildings and which would be removed if plans were given the go-ahead. Four separate barns would house the six self-catering units and each apartment would be able to sleep between two and six people. It is planned that there will be parking for five vehicles and storage for up to 17 bikes.
In a letter of support, Andrew Jones from the tourism regulation section of the Infrastructure, Housing and Environment Department said: ‘In light of the formation of Visit Jersey to oversee the marketing of Jersey as a visitor destination and with an aim to increase visitor numbers, it is important that the Island is able to offer high-quality accommodation that meets the needs of the visitor and fulfil demand at all times of the year.
‘Although, if successful, the addition of these units and the bed nights they will produce cannot compensate for the number of bed losses experienced over the past 12 years.’
Self-catering holiday accommodation has proven increasingly popular in the Island in recent years with Jersey Heritage now offering stays at 14 of its landmark properties including Rocco Tower, La Crête Fort and an apartment at Elizabeth Castle.
Meanwhile, the National Trust for Jersey has the Officers’ Quarters at Grève de Lecq, Le Don Hilton and Le Câtel Fort on its books. It also recently unveiled proposals to adapt the main house at the historic Morel Farm into self-catering accommodation and convert a former potato store – known as ‘the chapel’ – into a one-bedroom self-catering apartment.
And this week, plans were submitted by Conway Tower Properties to convert the round tower north of the former Wayside Café site from a flat into tourism accommodation.
In June, Visit Jersey revealed that there were 183 active listings for Jersey properties on the Airbnb website.
