A planning covenant on the St Sampson’s visitor attraction from 2017 means that while the centre has a number of shops, including craft shops, gift shops and eateries, charity shops are expressly not allowed.
This has frustrated Oatlands owner Chris Coles, who said that the covenant was intended in planning law to be a flexible document, able to adapt with changing demand.
And he said that following an approach from the hospice, and given the growing popularity of charity shops, all it would take would be to ‘delete five words’ to allow a new shop to move in. But he has repeatedly been turned down by the Development & Planning Authority.
‘We are wanting to constantly improve and invest further in Oatlands Village,’ he said. ‘But I feel as though we are being asked to compete in a race with both legs tied together.’
DPA president Neil Inder said that he had some sympathy with the argument, but the committee was bound by law.
‘The reason the authority was not supportive of an outlet at this particular location is that the DPA wants to see retail in our main centres of St Peter Port and the Bridge,’ he said.
‘The Island Development Plan is clear that retail is fundamental to the success of main centres, which is why proposals for new retail, where it involves “shopping around”, are limited to main centres.
‘I have sympathy with the applicant’s argument, and it may not pass the Guernsey view of “does it really matter?”
‘But the public needs to be aware that there is a legal covenant attached to the site that the owner is aware of, which is in line with the current rendition of the IDP.’
Mr Coles said that he would be ‘entirely content’ to limit the allowance for Les Bourgs’ use only, but that that suggestion has also been denied.
‘I am bewildered and somewhat demoralised by this decision because it can only be “good for Guernsey”. It cannot possibly harm the Town or local centres because Les Bourgs will not operate from those locations,’ he said.
‘It tried to do so in Town and closed within 12 months due to a lack of accessibility and parking. From what I understand retail is the most important contributor to the huge challenge of raising £3m. per annum needed to run the hospice. The nature and quality of charity shops, particularly that of Les Bourgs, has changed significantly in the years since the planning agreement was drafted and offering quality affordable clothing to the community at a time when budgets are tight is important to local people and visitors. In Jersey the visitors’ guide has two full pages devoted to charity shops. Les Bourgs is not just any charity – it’s Guernsey’s only hospice charity.’
He said that planning officers had been cooperative in the past, but at a time when the IDP was being reviewed – he was ‘baffled’ as to why the matter could not be resolved swiftly.
But Deputy Inder said that allowing one charity shop would set a precedent for other retailers.
‘I can assure the public that the committee is cognisant of the huge changes in retail over the last 10 years since the IDP was agreed,’ he said.
‘A future iteration may well assist Oatlands. Sadly, today, we can’t help the site owners.’
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