Bouley Bay super-home gets support of Planning officers

Thursday 20 October 2022

Planning officials are recommending that an application to knock down the Water’s Edge Hotel, and build a luxury home in its place, should go ahead.

Next week, the Planning Committee, which is made up of politicians, will decide if it agrees. Ahead of that meeting, officers assess the applications and give their view.

They have decided that the development complies with the Bridging Island Plan, which defines the policies against all applications must be judged.

Development in the island’s bays and countryside is a controversial subject, with many islanders expressing concern that access to, and views over, natural space should not be a preserve of the wealthy.

This week, the Government published draft plans to restrict homes of 3,000 sq ft or over being built in the countryside. However, the proposed updated BIP policy expressly says that old, unused hotels should be allowed to be developed, as long as there is a significant benefit to the environment.

With regards to the Water’s Edge application, the planning officer concludes: “The new development, while certainly substantial, nevertheless represents a significant reduction in floor area of around 23%, when compared to the existing hotel.

Pictured: The Water's Edge Hotel, which can trace its history back to the 18th century, closed its doors in 2009.

“There are also considerable reductions in comparison to the existing scheme [an already-approved application to build 25 units of self-catered accommodation there, with dive centre and restaurant].

“The design of the current proposal, which is essentially a series of heavily-landscaped tiers, progressively set in from the edges of the site, is considered to be far more sympathetic with regard to its overall appearance and landscape impact compared to the existing hotel complex.”

The officer report continues: “The café and replacement dive centre will retain an active frontage to the development, continuing to provide public access, along the pedestrian walkway overlooking the beach.”

Recommended planning obligations, which the owner would have comply with, include a commitment to guarantee the dive centre’s long-term future, as well as provide a temporary centre during development.

The officer also recommends that access to the cliffpath and surrounding public land is guaranteed and there should be no interference with the Bouley Bay hill climb.

He adds: “[Another] issue of concern is a suggestion that it is inappropriate for the site to be developed to provide a single dwelling.

"The department agrees with the applicant when it states that this is a political issue, not a planning issue – there would be no planning policy reason, as set out with the Island Plan, to reject the application on these grounds.”