Jersey's new Island Plan may have to tighten rules on turning hotels into flats
Jersey's new Island Plan may have to consider tightening the restrictions around applications to develop hotels into flats, according to the Environment Minister. Deputy John Young told ITV Channel News the department currently has around 10 applications or enquiries in the system to develop hotels. He thinks the current climate as well as the impending Island Plan could have sped up the recent applications.
It comes after three applications were registered to develop four St Helier hotels, last week alone. If approved the Stafford, Revere, Apollo and Mayfair Hotels would all give way to apartments.
Something else that may need to be considered in the draft Island Plan, according to Deputy Young, is an employment land policy. This would restrict applications for change of use where employment would be lost in the process. It is currently a consideration that applies to all other businesses, but not tourism. Lawrence Huggler, from the Huggler Group who own the Apollo, one of the hotels proposed for development, says their application has been in development for some time, and is simply a result of the building no longer being of the standard that the market demands.
He says the new Premier Inns as well as the rise in AirBnB in the island has changed the island's offering significantly.
St Helier's Constable, Simon Crowcroft welcomes plans for re-generation. But he is concerned about the reduction in the number of hotel beds in town and the impact on the island's tourism offering.
The draft Island Plan is expected in March.