Demand fuels plans to convert 15 hotel rooms to self-catered units

Friday 27 August 2021

Jersey is responding well to growing demand for “multi-generational” visitor accommodation, Visit Jersey has said, following an application from one hotel to turn some of its rooms into self-catered cottages.

This week, Hotel La Place asked the Planning Department to be allowed to convert 15 of its bedrooms into five two-to-four-bedroomed self-catered units.

In its application, the St. Brelade hotel says: “The site already has self-catering to the north of the hotel, and these are hugely successful and have continued to operate well during the recent lockdown.”

It adds: “[This will] provide high quality self-catering units which will add to the offering already provided by Hotel La Place which combines high-quality hotel rooms with self-catering units.”

Earlier this year, Les Ormes was given permission to add 60 units of self-catered accommodation to its site after a successful planning appeal.

The Harbour View in St. Aubin has also built a number of new self-catered apartments, which will be open in October.

Pictured: Les Ormes has successfully applied to build 60 new units of self-catered accommodation at its St. Brelade base. Credit: Google Maps.

Commenting on the shift in visitor trends, a Visit Jersey spokesperson said: “We know there is growing demand for multi-generational visitor accommodation and this would support year-round tourism. 

“An audit of our product has concluded that, at present, there is a comparative absence of self-catering accommodation in Jersey that currently means that the island is ‘handicapped in attracting family holidays’.

“Many accommodation partners on-island are responding to this opportunity - Les Ormes, The Harbour View, La Place in addition to several heritage buildings and farm-stay properties are currently going through, or have recently completed, the development process. 

“This is beneficial to Jersey’s visitor economy.”

Previously, the promotional body has said that the growth of ‘digital nomads’, who like to work while experiencing new places, and more people opting for a four-day working week, has increased the demand for self-catered accommodation.

Not all hotels, however, are choosing to remain in the hospitality sector. A number of town hotels, including the Revere, Mayfair, Apollo and Savoy, have announced their intention to convert into apartments this year, while the Hampshire Hotel is set to become a nursing and specialist care centre for people with learning disabilities.

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