The National Trust, Save Jersey’s Heritage and the Société Jersiaise had previously called on Environment Minister Freddie Cohen to save St Juste, one of only four examples of the cottage ornée style left in the Island.
Merton Hotel owner David Seymour had applied to Planning for partial demolition of the building of local importance to build an indoor bowls hall. But ultimately the organisations agreed that the benefit of restoring La Fantaisie, a site of special interest, outweighed losing a part of St Juste.
National Trust chief officer Charles Alluto said: ‘The National Trust and Save Jersey’s Heritage withdrew their objections to the proposals for St Juste, as on balance we considered that the full repair of La Fantaisie was of paramount importance and that although the proposed alterations to St Juste were regrettable, the setting of the building is already heavily compromised due to the existing FlowRider, tennis court and swimming pool.
‘In addition, the internal detailing of St Juste is of a lower architectural quality compared to La Fantaisie.’
