THE Environment Minister has said he recognises the ‘considerable public concern’ over hotels and hospitality venues in prime coastal locations being turned into private residential developments.
Deputy Jonathan Renouf said such decisions were guided by the Island Plan, and highlighted that the Bridging Island Plan – which was approved in March this year – provided a ‘strengthened planning policy regime to protect the Island’s coastline’.
He added: ‘The robustness and effectiveness of this policy regime will be monitored and assessed over the Bridging Island Plan period. I intend to take a proactive role in canvassing views from all stakeholders with the aim of ensuring that the Island Plan (and other relevant policy tools) work to ensure the preservation and enhancement of the greatest possible “public good” in relation to our coastline.’
Proposals to redevelop the former Water’s Edge Hotel in Bouley Bay and replace it with a luxury home were approved by the Planning Committee last week.
The project – which includes demolishing the dilapidated hotel – was recommended for approval by officers in the Planning Department, and the strategy and innovation team within the Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance Department, who said the scheme was in line with policies set out in the Bridging Island Plan.
Plans to demolish Café Romany at Grève de Lecq and replace it with a four-bedroom home and eatery were also approved in January this year, under a project that will see the reinstatement of some of the duneland on the site of the new Seaside Café and the removal of the majority of the car park nearest the beach.
Deputy Renouf made the comments in response to a written States question from Deputy Sam Mézec, who asked: ‘What plans, if any, [has the minister] to strengthen planning protections on Jersey’s coastline to prevent inappropriate developments taking place which take land which is currently developed for a public use (such as hotels or hospitality venues) into a site for private use (such as private residences).’
Deputy Renouf said: ‘As minister I recognise that there is considerable public concern about the way in which hotels and hospitality venues located in prime coastal locations have been – and may in the future be – developed for private residential development.’
It would be up to the Assembly to decide whether the policy required strengthening as part of the next Island Plan review, he said.
The minister added: ‘In the case of hospitality venues – described as daytime and evening economy uses in the Bridging Island Plan – a proposed change of use is subject to an additional policy test in the Island Plan and will only be supported where there is no market demand for the site’s continued use; or where the proposed alternative use is of overriding community benefit.
‘However, I recognise that the situation regarding the conversion of hotels is not as restrictive as it is with hospitality venues. There are good reasons for this policy distinction, but it is nevertheless something that I intend to investigate further to ensure that we are striking the right balance between the rights of hotel owners and the strong public desire to be able to continue to access and enjoy the Island’s coastline.’
