Plans for underground entertainment room in garden of Belvedere House
AN UNDERGROUND entertainment room, reached only by a tunnel, could be built under the rear garden of Belvedere House, if planning permission is granted.
The grand house, which stands overlooking Havelet Bay from Fort George, was sold by the States in a high-profile public auction for £5m. in 2008.
It has since been the subject of several planning applications.
In the latest application, Tom Bourgaize, director at The Drawing Room, said the plan was to create an underground entertainment space, accessed via a new basement extension, which would be accessed through a new tunnel connected to the main house.
‘To ensure that the new extension blends seamlessly with the surroundings, extensive landscaping will conceal it from view,’ he said.
‘One window facing the northeast ocean view will be visible. We have carefully assessed the visibility of this window.
'It will not be visible from the public footpath, which is situated nine metres below the densely vegetated, steep terrain.’
The tunnel would be 2.3m high and just under 1.3m wide. It would then be over 1m underground, stretching out to the room itself.
The room – referred to as 'the hideaway' in the plans – would be about 2.6m high, and nearly 9m across. Most of the northeast-facing wall – six metres of it – would be taken up by the large window overlooking the bay.
The design shows there would be a kitchen and dining area in the space, as well as a seating area.
Belvedere House has been listed since 1979, reflecting itlong history connected to Guernsey’s military past.
During the Occupation, the site was useful from a military perspective, due to its vantage point, and there is an ammunition store very close to where the underground room is proposed.
Mr Bourgaize said the store had been taken into consideration when drawing up the plans.
‘Although this store is not part of the protected status, we are committed to preserving its integrity,’ he said.
‘Structural formwork will be erected during excavation to safeguard the adjacent structure.
‘In conclusion, we believe that these proposals, together with other works in progress, will enhance the overall status of Belvedere House.’
In terms of the main house, the planning application includes a plan of the inside of the house, which shows a cinema, gym and guest room in the basement, and a drawing room, dining room study, library and kitchen on the ground floor.
On the first floor are five bedrooms, three of which overlook Havelet Bay.
