THE government’s chief economic adviser has once again backed plans for international-chain hotel by the Airport in St Peter – putting his weight behind a scaled-down project after the first incarnation was rejected in November for being too big.
Tom Holvey has written to the Planning Department – with the Economy Department being an official consultee – to voice his support for the 155-bed hotel in between the rugby club and Strive Health Club, which is being proposed by Strive and backed by its landowner, Team Athlete Holdings Ltd.
While few have argued against the economic benefit of having a new hotel in Jersey, complete with conference facilities, the main bone of contention is whether the site is appropriate and if the application complies with the inherently conflicting policies of the all-important Bridging Island Plan, which determines what can be built where in Jersey.
In his submission, the chief economic adviser writes: “The scheme aligns with strategic objectives to grow and diversify Jersey’s visitor economy, help modernise the Island’s accommodation offering, and attract new market segments, such as sports tourism and conference visitors.”
He adds: “Alongside increased visitor spend, the development would delver a broad range of economic, social and community benefits. Additionally, the recent gains made in attracting sports teams of international repute would be solidified with possible further improvements in attracting new teams to Jersey.”
In other submissions to the outline application, Ports of Jersey and Jersey Sport have both backed it.
However, former Planning Committee Chair Alastair Layzell has voiced his objection, as he did with the previous, rejected application.
“Removing one floor, a tweak there, cannot disguise the fact that the proposed hotel would be a Colossus in the countryside, a Goliath in the Green Zone,” he said.
He also called for the applicant to produce photo montages of the hotel and for it to provide the Planning Committee, who will determine the application, with a physical indication on the politicians’ site visit, potentially using a crane, of the development’s proposed heights.
