Plan for eco yurt 'glamping' site in St. Ouen

Saturday 26 February 2022

An environmentally friendly yurt campsite could be set up in St. Ouen to help people "connect with nature", if Planning gives the idea the green light.

Jersey Organic Yurts (JOY) has applied for planning permission to construct five yurts on Field 01585, Le Chemin du Moulin for use over

If successful, the 'glampsite' will be open between April and September.

A statement forming part of the planning application says that the yurts would mark a step forward for local sustainable tourism.

“In the current ‘climate’ (pun intended), people are seeking to get away from the constant causes of stress to find ways to connect with nature and our true environment,” it read.

Pictured: Location of the proposed development site at Field 01585, St. Ouen (coloured deep purple).

It continued: “This presents a great opportunity for JOY and Jersey to pioneer a small model of sustainable tourism that everyone and everything can benefit from.

"We would be actually giving back, rather than taking away.

“With similar sites already existing such as Durrell and Beuvelande Campsite (which feature yurts made by JOY), we would fill the void out west for an ecological camping experience that doesn’t ‘cost the earth’.”

Creating the campsite requires a change of use for the field from agriculture to tourism.

Pictured: An ecological map of the existing area, highlighting the different species which currently call it their home.

Various “temporary ancillary support trailers” would also be required on-site during the April to September holiday season.

Landscaping works would also be needed to make the 175sqm site suitable for the yurts and supporting infrastructure.

Those works include the establishment of an ecological habitat area to protect the surrounding populations of reptiles, amphibians, small mammals and plants.

The application will be determined by Planning at a later date.