Hotel use change 'should be difficult'
TOURISM growth targets are enough for the Island Development Plan to contain policies that make it difficult for hotels to be converted to other uses, according to independent planning inspectors.
But they point out that this is not an 'expected forecast of growth', and suggest that no hard-and-fast rule should be created that in the future would not allow hotels to be changed.
Their comments were made in their report on the proposed IDP which aims to support a generalised target of increasing visitor numbers from 300,000 a year now to 400,000 a year by 2025. They said, though, this needs to be kept under review.
At hearings into the IDP, concerns were raised that new stricter rules would lead to more hotels becoming derelict.
There is an overriding States policy to maintain an adequate stock of visitor accommodation to support the future viability and growth of the tourist-related industry.
A current fall in visitor numbers staying in commercial accommodation, coupled with a now completed rationalisation of visitor accommodation, had to all be taken into account when considering what an 'adequate stock' of places to stay was, inspectors said.
