PLANS have been lodged to convert a storage building into a two-bedroom cottage to be used as self-catering accommodation, which the applicants say could generate ‘much-needed income’ for the local tourism industry.
The storage building, located at Bonne Nuit Apartments overlooking the harbour, would form ‘tourist accommodation’ and include a swimming pool, associated gardens and an extra car parking space, if plans are approved.
A report provided by Architects J Design stated: ‘Although the proposed cottage can only accommodate four people the proposed development can still generate a much-needed income for the tourist industry which has struggled recently with the closure of numerous hotels.
‘This application seeks to provide good quality self-catering accommodation in a sector of the industry which continues to generate more demand than there are units available.’
Bonne Nuit Apartments in St John was formerly the site of the Idle Rock Hotel. There are currently nine residential units at the site, according to J Design.
The report continued: ‘The development proposes the demolition/removal of the existing timber-frame structure and profiled sheet-metal cladding whilst retaining the existing blockwork structure and constructing a two-bedroom detached cottage for use as self-catering tourist accommodation.’
It added: ‘It has been designed as a traditional cottage with a mixture of granite and rendered walls and a slate-roof finish with lead-covered dormers to enable a discrete development that does not result in an unreasonable negative impact on the apartments within the site boundary or the neighbouring properties.’
