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An environmental impact assessment has found that a new luxury country club and golf venue at La Grande Mare would have "no significant adverse or beneficial environmental effects".
And any environmental damage in the demolition and construction phases of the proposed project could be more than offset by enhancements in wet meadowland at and near the site.
The proposed development includes knocking down La Grand Mare Hotel and building a country club, a new restaurant and gym, 15 tourist lodges, a new driving range and a golf academy. Planning permission has not yet been obtained. But the development has moved one step closer to its proposed completion date of 2024 following the publication of an environmental impact assessment carried out by Ramboll, a firm of experienced consultants.
Their report was produced to set out the “significant environmental effects of the proposed development” and the mitigating actions proposed.
Pictured: If the States' Development & Planning Authority grant permission, the development will include a 290-yard driving range and golf academy.
The hotel was bought by Guernsey-based billionaire businessman Stephen Lansdown in 2019. He has said that he intends to create a “world class golf club and resort".
The existing golf course would be revamped and landscaped and extended into derelict agricultural land. Demolition and construction work could reduce wet meadow habitats and loose-flower orchids.
But measures are proposed to mitigate any damage through a biodiversity strategy which includes the creation of replacement wet meadow habitats and new woodland and the installation of ecological corridors.
Pictured: Stephen Lansdown, who is hoping to obtain permission to develop a world-class golf resort on the west coast of Guernsey.
The environmental impact assessment states: “Long-term monitoring and management would be implemented during and post construction to ensure the successful establishment of created habitats, and for conservation to ensure a net gain in the extent and quality of this habitat type in the study area.
“Replacement roosting and nesting features for bats and birds respectively, and creation of invertebrate houses would also mitigate the temporary habitat loss.”
A planning application for the proposed development was submitted on 29 December 2020. A period of consultation on the plans is due to close on 3 December this year, after which the States' Development & Planning Authority will determine whether the development can go ahead.
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