‘Retail should be for Town and local centres’, say planners
RETAIL activity should be focused on Town and local centres, planners have said, as they did not seek to resist the loss of a St Martin’s restaurant site.
The planners said they appreciated that there was a petition with more than 1,600 signatures, calling for the Auberge site to stay as part of the tourist economy.
‘That this application has drawn significant opposition is understandable, given the evident high regard that the former restaurants are held in, and disappointment over the potential loss of a venue used for recreation and socialising over many years by local residents and visitors,’ they noted in the planning report.
But the Island Development Plan – the document for what can be built where in Guernsey – states that retail should be focused in areas like Town or Bridge or local centres, like St Martin’s or L’Islet. That meant the planners do not resist retail closing outside the centres – such as in this case.
The building on the site contains a two-bedroom dwelling known as ‘The Auberge Cottage’ to the north-east of which is attached a larger building most recently operated as restaurants known as The Auberge and later The View.
The Auberge closed in January 2019, with The View opening in June 2020 as a private and corporate hire venue before closing during the early part of 2021.
The report clarifies that the application was to create residential space that would be incorporated into the neighbouring dwelling, rather than create a new house.
‘Consequently there is no requirement for the applicant to demonstrate that, or for the authority to assess whether or not, the building is redundant for its current or last-known use,’ the planners stated.
The planners also allowed the curtilage to be extended, as well as partial demolition, extension and alterations to the building.
‘None of the proposed works are considered to be significant or likely to have any adverse impact on the amenities of neighbouring residents or the character of the locality, and the application is therefore considered to comply with the aims and objectives of both policies.’
Owner Andrew Haining’s agent was approached for comment.
