The 28-bedroom hotel, which had operated since 1947, was forced to close in 2003 following a kitchen fire.
Breton is overseeing the demolition. Managing director Brent Green confirmed that site clearance was currently under way with local firm Bernie’s Gardening Services.
Full demolition is scheduled to begin next week, led by UK-based company Pennys, chosen for their expertise in handling asbestos, which is a major concern on the site. The entire process is expected to take around 10 weeks.
‘We’ve had consultations with neighbours, the States of Guernsey, and the bus companies to minimise disruption,’ Mr Green said. ‘Air monitoring units will be in place, and we’ll damp down to prevent dust and asbestos particles from spreading.’
Since the fire, the site has suffered extensive vandalism, further fire damage, and become a source of frustration for nearby residents.
Ramle Rocks Ltd purchased the property in 2006 for £1.7m., and while various planning permissions have been granted over the years, including for a replacement hotel, the most recent approval earlier this year was for a luxury residential home.
Local residents have expressed relief and cautious optimism about the work going ahead.
‘It’s 15 years too late, really,’ said Alan Harrison, who lives nearby.
‘The place has been disgusting and terrible. But I’m pleased it’s finally happening.’
Fellow resident Bill Allerton echoed the sentiment, calling the site a ‘haven for vermin’, and he welcomed the long overdue clean-up.
St Martin’s senior constable Dave Beausire also welcomed the move.
‘Derelict hotels have been a depressing sight in our parish,’ he said.
‘Whether it becomes private accommodation or something else, it’s good to see progress being made.’
Despite the demolition, the future of the site remains uncertain. Architects from Lovell Ozanne declined to comment, citing client confidentiality. While a luxury home has been approved, neighbours said that they were unsure what would ultimately emerge.
You need to be logged in to comment. If you had an account on our previous site, you can migrate your old account and comment profile to this site by visiting this page and entering the email address for your old account. We'll then send you an email with a link to follow to complete the process.