Owners of multi-million art deco home La Coupe have pergola plans rejected

Thursday 17 November 2022

The Environment Minister has rejected an appeal from owners of a multi-million home in the Coastal National Park to build a pergola on their roof over concerns it would harm the surrounding area.

Jonathan Renouf agreed with the Planning inspector that adding the feature to the art-deco La Coupe House, which is situated above La Saie in St. Martin, would also make the house "bulkier and taller".

Plans to install a pergola on the home, which was sold by Ransom's Garden Centre director Sarah Ransom in 2014 for £12.3 million, were initially rejected last year due to its "increased visual impact on the landscape, which would therefore be harmful to the Coastal National Park".

The decision to reject the plans was appealed by Godel Architects, who were acting on behalf of the applicant Adam Mackie.

They argued that the pergola would not "disproportionately increase the size of the dwelling in terms of floorspace, building footprint or visual impact", adding that the proposals are "subservient to the existing building".

Pictured: Environment Minister Deputy Jonathan Renouf, who has responsibility for Planning matters.

However, Deputy Renouf has followed the advice of the Planning inspector who recommended that the appeal be dismissed.

In a decision notice submitted to the government's Planning website, it says: "The Minister accepted and agreed with the findings, recommendations and reasoning of the independent Planning inspector.​ The application fails to identify any evidenced public benefit of the proposal that would outweigh the harm caused by it".

In the inspectors report, he said that the proposal "would make the house appear bulkier and taller".

"While I note the submissions about the lightweight structure, it would be enclosed on all sides by glazed panels and would contain a roof structure over much of its area, such that it would appear as an additional storey and would further intrude into views within the protected coastal area, including from the sea.

"By increasing the bulk and height of the main part of an already large and prominent building, it would not protect or improve landscape and seascape character," he said.

"Making this large and prominent modern building appear bulkier and taller, with an effective additional top tier of accommodation, would cause some harm to the Coastal National Park's purposes and its special qualities," he added.