Derelict property owners told to clear up sites

Carlo Stefani is meeting officials from planning on the site later this month

The manager of a now-derelict hotel in Guernsey has said he wants to knock it down and build 25 affordable homes after saying he was told to clear-up the site or face a fine.

Carlo Stefani, who has managed the St Margaret's Lodge Hotel for more than a decade, said officials at the Development and Planning Authority (DPA) contacted him requesting the site be cleared.

Under new laws, owners of unsightly properties can be served with a Land Amenity Improvement Notice, requiring them to clear sites.

The DPA said it had not served any notices but has made "informal" approaches for work to be done to avoid a sanction.

'My dream'

Ex-DPA president Victoria Oliver had said notices were served on the Idlerocks, St Martin's Hotel and St Margaret's Lodge.

Mr Stefani said he would meet officials from the DPA on the site later this month to discuss what action could be taken to avoid a fine.

"My dream is to pull it down and have 25, two-bedroom bungalows and cottages, but in a way where they are affordable to be either rented or purchased.

"I'm not interested in any investor which comes along and says, 'oh, can I buy two or three?' No, has to be for Mr and Mrs Mahy, Mr and Mrs Le Prevost etc," he said.

The hotel, which closed more than a decade ago to visitors, was previously called the Forest Park Hotel.

"I found a couple of companies which provide modular housing, guaranteed for 30 years or longer if you maintain it regularly, and the bank have agreed that a loan can be accepted."

He says when he received an email from planning, which he says threatened a fine, it made him nervous.

But he hoped the planned meeting would ease concerns: "At least by talking to them face to face, on site, it should be help."

The former St Margaret's Lodge Hotel last welcomed customers in 2014

What is a Land Amenity Improvement Notice?

Plans to fine the owners of "unsightly" buildings were approved by deputies in March 2023 and the new law came into force earlier this year.

People's homes are exempt from the new scheme, while States buildings are eligible to be fined.

The DPA can issue these civil notices to owners and occupiers where they believe there is a "significant negative effect on the appearance of the area", and they can be fined £500 a day if notices are ignored.

When approached about notices served on the Idlerocks, St Martin's Hotel and St Margaret's Lodge the DPA said: "There have not been any notices served at this stage.

"The reason why there haven't been any notices served to date is that, before issuing a notice formally, we will first do all that we can to try and work with the land owner to rectify the situation.

"This informal approach will not be included on the public register, however if this approach is unsuccessful, then a notice could be served.

"We've already made contact with some owners to work with them in this manner."

The notices can be appealed against.

St Martin's Constable Dave Beausire says he is pleased some of the derelict sites could become housing

Dave Beausire is the senior constable for St Martin's and said "we have been the parish of derelict hotels for many, many years".

He welcomed the action by the DPA to force the owners of the hotels to clean-up the sites.

"I think it is time something was done, derelict private property needs to be sorted out.

"It's a blot on the landscape, but also we need housing and we need accommodation."

The Idlerocks Hotel at Jerbourg burned down in September 2003

What's happening at Idlerocks and St Martin's Hotel?

The site has planning permission for a three-bedroom house and staff accommodation and has been derelict since a fire in September 2003.

The BBC has contacted the landowners for comment.

Some of the old St Martin's Hotel has already been demolished

Demolition has already started at the old St Martin's Hotel.

The site has planning permission for housing and has been closed for about 14 years.

After losing her seat at the recent general election, former DPA President Victoria Oliver reflected on her achievements at planning.

"Everyone hates derelict buildings, these notices have given the DPA the power now to go and sort it.

"We're actually seeing real movement on that, you've got St Margaret's Hotel, St Martin's Hotel, St Margaret's Lodge, they're moving.

"Idlerocks is now moving and also some of Mill Street as well, so I think it's watch the space with that.

"I'll be so proud because I'll know that it was me that got the law through."