The owner of Carey House has been told they can’t convert seven un-occupied flats into offices because the residential units are needed as the island grapples with its housing crisis.
The top floor of the five-storey building near Admiral Park is listed for residential use, while the rest of the building is classed as administrative use.
Each of the two-bedroom flats has been vacant since at least 2008, with the building’s owner first making enquiries about converting the flats for office use in 2011.
None of the flats have running water, kitchens, or bathrooms, while they can each only be accessed through the building’s main entrance which is the reception area for a multi-national law firm.
The building’s owner said that causes issues around confidentiality and security.
It has also said that the flats wouldn’t be suitable for staff accommodation either because any guests would also have access to the whole building.
However, having considered the change of use application, the DPA has said no.
It says the owner has failed to prove that the flats can’t be used as they are or improved to provide satisfactory accommodation.
The plans were submitted last September, with two States deputies opposing the plan – saying they had concerns over the loss of seven units of accommodation at this point in
time.
The Planning Officers agreed and said “it is not accepted” that the units are substandard.
“When built, the residential units would all have had been fitted with kitchens, bathrooms and access to running water. These have been removed at cost for an unknown reason.”
The rejection letter pointed out that converting the flats into offices would require water and sanitation facilities being put back in, so that would not be considered an unreasonable upgrade to maintain the housing stock.
In relation to access and security concerns, the Planning Officers said “it must be noted that there are multiple examples of successfully operated mixed use schemes within St Peter Port Main Centre and elsewhere on the island”.
It said that such mixed-use buildings with office and residential use combined can bring “vitality and viability to areas”.
The DPA also said that changing the access routes for the flats would not be unreasonable to improve security for all of the building’s users. It adds that offering on-site accommodation for staff could be seen by some as a positive.
“Across the industry it is claimed that Guernsey is currently experiencing a housing crisis and finding suitable residential accommodation as part of relocation packages is often difficult making it difficult to recruit personnel,” said the DPA. “Although the applicant does not consider it to be possible for the security reasons identified, there is no reason as to why through improved security measures the residential accommodation could not be used to accommodate employees of the business.”
In rejecting the application for a change of use, the DPA said every option needs to be explored before the flats’ futures can be doomed entirely.
“There is a clear need for additional housing stock in the Island (as per the States’
Strategic Housing Indicator). The objection from the States Deputies to the loss of these
units is also noted. In relation to Policy GP12 it is therefore reasonable to require all
avenues to be explored to bring these seven units of residential accommodation back
into use.”