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The King of Everland has been told he can't have planning permission to build a home on his land because it would result in an "unsubstantiated loss of agricultural land" in Guernsey.
Everland is the name given to a plot of land on Ruette Du Frocq in the Castel.
Steve Ogier bought the site in 2011 but was told he was unlikely to be given permission to build a residential property there.
Nevertheless he has persisted with his plans ever since.
Initially he had planning permission approved to use two bunkers on site for storage, but that ran out in 2013, before being granted again in 2016.
In January 2018 Mr Ogier sought advice on changing the use of the land from domestic storage to living accommodation, but he was told it was highly unlikely to be granted, and in any case, work should not be done without prior planning permission. He proceeded anyway.
Planning sanctions were levied against him when it was reported he was living on the site, and despite declaring independence from Guernsey and naming himself the King of Everland, Guernsey's Royal Court has said he must abide by the island's development laws.
In December 2024 he lodged a planning application to erect a portacabin to create a residential dwelling on the site, with associated works, including creating a porch and external steps on a bunker on the site.
Mr Ogier also asked for retrospective planning permission for a trailer and caravan to be installed on the site and he wanted to build a garage/store, with fencing for a dog run.
The Development and Planning Authority has said no.
In a decision published last week, but communicated with Mr Ogier before Christmas, he was told that the retrospective permission he wanted for the trailer and caravan were refused because both are currently being used for residential purposes meaning they are breaching planning policies already.
As Ruette du Frocq lies within an Agriculture Priority Area, residential developments are not ordinarily granted under the Island Development Plan, so his application for the portacabin was also refused.
"Whilst IDP Policy OC1 makes provision for some housing Outside of the Centres this is in very limited, specified circumstances and only where achieved through subdivision of an existing dwelling or the conversion of an existing building in accordance with other relevant policies," explained the DPA in its response to the application.
"The creation of housing in any other circumstances beyond those specified is not supported under the Plan. Similar policies in relation to new residential development have applied consistently in this area of the Island under previous Development Plans, prior to adoption of the current Island Development Plan in 2016."
It was further stated that: "The site would consequently contain a significant amount of ‘built’ form and would introduce this development in an otherwise rural setting. The application site to the south of Ruette Du Frocq is otherwise surrounding by open land and provides a rural corridor to this green lane. The incursion of development in this location would therefore impact on this open and undeveloped setting."
The DPA also said that Mr Ogier's designs were not of a "high standard" adding to their reasons for why the application should be refused.
Mr Ogier is able to appeal if he wishes, and the DPA advised him that must be done within six months of his being notified of the refusal of planning permission.
Pictured top: Everland and its self-proclaimed King.
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