Planning Committee Denies Restaurant-to-Holiday-Let Conversion in Jersey

The planning committee has denied approval for a section of a Jersey restaurant to be converted into a self-catering holiday rental unit. This decision follows the closure of Nude Food, located at La Pulente, in November 2023, with its owner citing inadequate financial performance. Nude Food Dunes, the company, had sought to alter the use of a portion of the premises to incorporate a two-bedroom apartment. Nadia Miller, the owner, indicated her intention to appeal the committee’s ruling. The proposal also encompassed transforming the remaining part of the structure into a “kiosk style cafe” and reinstating the public toilets, which had been shut down concurrently with the business in November 2023. The planning officer assigned to the application had advised its rejection, and most of the 124 members of the public who submitted comments on the plans also expressed opposition. Approximately 250 individuals assembled on the beach adjacent to the restaurant in July to protest against “overdevelopment and privatisation.” The proprietors had attempted to sell the restaurant, situated within the Coastal National Park, but stated that they had not received an adequate offer. Mike Smith, director of the architectural and design firm responsible for drafting the proposals, noted that the owner had been attempting to sell the enterprise for the past year, reducing the asking price from £3.3 million to £2.2 million. He asserted that numerous policies within the Island Plan supported the proposed development, arguing it would contribute to the visitor economy and offer a “viable future for the building” while helping to “avoid dereliction.” However, Constable Philip Le Sueu, who chairs the planning committee, stated that the committee could not base its determination on a company’s financial difficulties. Mr. Le Sueur emphasized that the location was an exceptionally sensitive area within the Coastal National Park, requiring safeguarding. The committee further noted that there was no substantial policy justification to override the recommendation to deny the application.