“REGRETTABLE” circumstances surrounding a controversial bid to transform the former Nude Dunes site at La Pulente into self-catering tourist accommodation drew sympathy from members of the Island’s Planning Committee – but ultimately did not stop it being rejected.
The quiet and formal atmosphere during the committee’s meeting at the St Paul’s Centre yesterday did little to reflect the charged public reaction to the plans, which sparked a protest involving hundreds of Islanders earlier this year.
Despite several committee members expressing sympathy for the situation faced by the building’s owner, Nadia Miller, they followed the recommendation of the Planning Department and refused her application in a unanimous decision.
A converted former toilet block, the site was briefly home to Nude Dunes – which went bust in November 2023 just months after opening its doors.
It has been vacant since and, earlier this year, the JEP broke the news that Ms Miller had not been able to find a buyer or operator for the former restaurant and wanted to have it converted to a tourist let.
The submitted plans for a two-bedroom self-catering unit with an attached café and public toilets garnered more than 120 public comments, with Islanders raising a number of concerns ranging from “creeping” development in the coastal park area to the potential “privatisation” of a site enjoyed by the public.
Today’s refusal of those plans also comes around five months after St Brelade Deputy Montfort Tadier co-ordinated a protest at the site – attended by between 250 and 300 people – to “show support for the protection of La Pulente and the wider coastline from privatisation and overdevelopment”.
The application was recommended for refusal by planning officer Lawrence Davies, who argued that “community interest is better served by the use of the building as a café or restaurant which is widely available to the general public”.
He had also disagreed with the owner’s assertion that the former restaurant – which had previously been put on the market for £3.5m, then later for £2.2m – could not be sold, saying it would “likely” attract a “willing buyer” were the price to be dropped.
Defending the scheme during yesterday’s meeting, Mike Smith of architectural and design consultants J Design acknowledged it had been subject to “heated emotions, opinions and even protests”.
But he stressed that it should not be subject to “special” community interest or a “popularity contest”.
Among the arguments he put forward was that the change of use would not represent the loss of a restaurant, as the site was currently empty with no one employed.
He maintained that “no fair or reasonable offers have been made” and that the Planning Department had “not provided any evidence” to support its argument that the price should be lowered.
Mr Smith cited the plans as “a pragmatic and policy-compliant solution” for a site “that now stands empty”.
Addressing the committee, an emotional Ms Miller described the situation as “very difficult and unfortunate”, adding that “nobody wanted a restaurant more than me’’.
She argued that the site was already a developed structure that needed to be “treated fairly’’, describing the application as “a change of use to show this building does have a future’’.
Ms Miller also highlighted that “people aren’t going out like they used to’’, having stated earlier in the meeting that the restaurant had “failed”.
Despite describing the situation as “regrettable”, Planning Committee chair Constable Philip Le Sueur said that financial difficulties were “not material considerations in determining planning applications”.
He noted that the building was in “an extremely sensitive area” requiring a high degree of protection, and that he shared public concerns that the plans could be a further “step” towards residential development.
Vice-chair Deputy Alex Curtis said it was “horrible” to hear of an applicant’s difficult circumstances, but maintained the department’s view that “at the right market value there is a future as a full hospitality venue”.
Constable Kevin Lewis also said that he was “very sorry” about Ms Miller’s predicament, but reiterated that the committee could only consider the plans in front of them.
Deputy Tom Coles spoke of concerns around “incremental encroachment” towards residential development in a coastal national park area, while Deputies Andy Howell and Steve Ahier also sided with the planning officer’s recommendation.
Constable Mark Labey added that it was “very saddening to hear it may never become a restaurant again” but agreed with his fellow committee members.
All voted in favour of a refusal.
Ms Miller told the JEP that she planned to appeal against the decision.
