JERSEY’S Chief Minister is “100% behind” the idea of developing a hotel in St Peter as recently proposed by Strive – albeit not one of the size and scale of the designs recently rejected by the Planning Committee.
In a States sitting yesterday, Deputy Lyndon Farnham said he fully supported the development of visitor accommodation in the area, but admitted that initial designs were “just too big”.
His comments came a few days after plans to build a 179-room complex with a conference centre, spa and swimming pool on an existing car park between the Strive health club and the next-door rugby club were not approved by a panel of politicians.
Strive managing director Ben Harvey had argued that the complex would be a much-needed boost to the Island’s struggling hospitality sector. However, the application was recommended for refusal by a Planning Department official, as it was deemed to have a “harmful impact on the character of the countryside”.
And last Thursday, the Planning Committee narrowly rejected the application by four votes to three, with those voting against the scheme deeming the size and scale of the proposed six-storey building too large for the green-zone site and against the aims of the Bridging Island Plan.
Following the decision, several business leaders shared their frustration about planning regulations hindering investment in the Island.
Jersey’s Chamber of Commerce president Lee Madden, who attended the packed-out planning meeting last week, resorted to describing Jersey’s planning processes as “tied down in the past” and called for direct action from the Chief Minister.
That wish was realised in the States yesterday, as Deputy Farnham confirmed that he had spoken to the owners of Strive and had “offered to assist where [he] can”.
Responding to a question lodged by Deputy David Warr on whether he believed the Planning Committee’s decision was the correct one, the Chief Minister said he agreed with the idea in concept but not detail.
“What was on the table was just too big,” he said, adding that it is his understanding that Strive owners intended to revise their plans, to make their hotel design “more realistic in relation to size and scale”.
“Without compromising the economic viability, I very much hope a good compromise can be made so the project can go ahead, albeit in a slightly reduced format,” Deputy Farnham said.
Although new plans may be on the horizon for the anticipated development, last week Mr Harvey confirmed that the original third phase of development, as part of a “Strive Masterplan”, would not continue.
A Strive Business and Economic Plan, accompanying the planning application, referred to a third phase beyond the health club and hotel (phases one and two), which included new facilities “to support indoor sports, rugby and football” to be built on fields behind the existing Strive development. This was planned for 2026/27.
Although hinting at revised plans for phase two, Deputy Farnham did not allude to any potential timelines for future planning applications by Strive.
