The former Auberge restaurant at Jerbourg will be knocked down and replaced with a luxury house.
The site owner has been granted permission to demolish and replace the existing property, four years after the last hospitality business to be run from the site closed.
Andrew Haining had bought the site when it was still run as a restaurant but the business was closed and he successfully applied for a change of use to residential after claiming that the view was no longer exceptional so the site was not needed in the hospitality sector.
However, the Development & Planning Authority noted that “due to its topography, the site benefits from long distance views of St Peter Port and towards the other islands” and that the new development will lead to the loss of some public views as “it will impact on the open location and natural landscape especially views from the south to east on the Doyle Monument from the road”.
As part of work already done to the site, public access to the former restaurant’s car park near the Doyle Monument has been closed off, but the new house can only be one storey to minimise disruption to the views “from the smaller viewing area adjacent to the owners car park”.
In granting planning permission, the DPA acknowledged the public interest in the development. But ultimately it said the proposals had to be approved under the Island Development Plan.
“The Island Development Plan must balance public interest and individual choice but
should protect and where possible enhance the built and natural environment and
outside of designated areas there is more flexibility with regard to new development.
“There is no uniform design or palette of materials in the local area and the dwelling to
the northwest has adopted a contemporary design approach. The design and external
appearance of the proposed dwelling and garage represent a good standard of
architectural design that would respect the local built environment and open
landscape concerned and will not result in the loss of any specific distinctive features
that contribute to the wider landscape character/local distinctness (GP8 and GP1).”
The planning permission comes with certain conditions including that work starts by April 2028, and that any archaeological finds located during the work are recorded.