Martial arts club wants to take on former CI Ceramics building

The martial arts school has put in a joint application, alongside construction firm Breton, that would see the half of the upstairs part of the building used for teaching classes, while the other side, basement and yard would be used by the building company.

The site has been empty since the end of October when Channel Island Ceramics closed and went into liquidation.

The 17,300sq. ft building was put on the market for offers in excess of £3m. shortly afterwards.

In the application, the building company and the jiu-jitsu school said they were currently both operating from premises that were less than ideal.

Sarnia Jiu Jitsu opened seven years ago but black belt instructor Adrian Harbour said its current temporary location at the Cobo Bay Hotel was far from fulfilling its potential. The club had been trying to find somewhere else to rent from 2019, and somewhere to buy since 2022.

‘By moving to the proposed location, the number of children participating will increase dramatically,’ he wrote in a supporting letter.

‘We already have significant waiting lists, despite never advertising children’s classes.’

He added that jiu-jitsu was hugely beneficial to the community.

‘Not only is it excellent and healthy exercise which is open to all – we have students from 5-79, male and female – but it teaches hugely valuable skills of self-defence,’ said Mr Harbour.

‘We feel we can do wonderful things for the island, we just need somewhere to call home, and this is the first time in years of searching that it could happen.’

However, he added that the building was too large for the club alone and described Breton as ‘the perfect partner’.

Breton managing director, Brent Green, said his company, which is currently based in the Braye Road Industrial site, sharing office space with Sigma, had been looking for a viable premises since mid-2023.

The company, which was founded from the collapse of RG Falla, has had to make do with a temporary site that was limiting its growth.

‘We have considered many sites over the last 18 months,’ he wrote in a letter supporting the application. ‘The former Channel Islands Ceramics building would seem to be perfect for our needs.

'Our usage would be remarkably similar to the previous occupants... and similar to a number of other light industrial users in the vicinity of the airport. This would guarantee the security and stability of a significant local employer for years to come.’