Mr Veron originally purchased the property in Talbot Valley with the idea to convert the barn into a home for his daughter and her family, but faced significant delays because of its rundown state and its non-domicile status, which made it difficult for him to secure the necessary permissions.
‘The people at Planning have done everything they could to help us, but of course they’re given the rules they have to work with and it requires a lot of patience,’ he said. ‘I just hope I get to see it finished while I’m still alive.’
This is only the beginning of the road for Mr Veron, who, with his roof ridge now installed, will have to make further applications to Planning & Building Control to continue the renovation project.
He anticipates that this will take another six months to be approved, which is then liable to be followed by another waiting period while he waits for his chosen contractor to be available.
He has guessed that, once works were resumed on the barn, they would be completed promptly – though that would still mean another six months’ wait before making the next round of planning applications.
‘Fortunately, I have the best builder in the world,’ he said.
‘We’ve had not one delay so far, but it takes time. You’ve got to be patient.’
Although Mr Veron has made an admirable study of patience over the last half decade of attempting to start his renovation project, the Guernsey planning process has proven capable of wearing down even the most saintly of islanders.
‘It’s frustrating – for us and for them,’ he said. ‘The process has created a big time delay and cost increase.’