‘My cottages could sit empty while island has housing crisis’
The owner of three self-catering cottages who was refused permission to change their use to residential accommodation said they are likely to remain empty.
The cottages were converted from empty barns at Les Brehauts Farm, St Peter’s, and the woman who owns them, who asked not to be named, said that after operating the business for almost 20 years she felt it was time to retire.
‘Letting the cottages for longer stays would enable this with no changes required,’ she said.
She had a list of essential workers who were looking for accommodation including a teacher, pilot and a doctor. The doctor had been living in a hotel for six months, she said, and would leave the island if he was unable to find a home soon.
‘I can’t think of any other area where people are unable to retire when the time is right for them.
‘I have closed to visitors, so unfortunately the cottages could sit empty whilst Guernsey has an accommodation crisis.’
One of the grounds for her being refused permission was that she had not attempted to lease the cottage business. ‘This is unfeasible and unlikely,’ she said.
‘There is too much uncertainty in tourism and like many others running a business from home in Guernsey, my business and home are integrated.’
The other option is to leave them to run down until they were no longer seen as acceptable visitor accommodation, ‘which seems ridiculous' she said.
'It would surely harm Guernsey’s reputation to offer deteriorating accommodation in the meantime.’
She said Development and Planning Authority president Victoria Oliver had been supportive and had asked the Economic Development committee to look at hospitality in more detail.
‘After a reasonable period of time – in my case 20 years – people might need to reduce their work load, or retire,’ said the owner.
‘It’s a human right. I know that I’m not the only one in this position.
‘It doesn’t help anyone by leaving three cottages empty when Guernsey has such a need for accommodation.
‘It certainly sends out a message of caution to anyone considering working here or providing visitor accommodation in the future.’
Deputy Oliver said it was a difficult situation.
‘The Island Development Plan states that existing visitor accommodation establishments over a certain size being proposed for change of use have to be actively marketed for two years.
‘So, in these circumstances, the only decision that could be made was to refuse this application.’
She understood it was not nice to feel tied to a business but the policy did allow for change of use under the right circumstances.
‘I also see it from the perspective of our tourism industry that losing beds is not good for our local economy.
‘It’s something that we are working with Economic Development on.’
