But work stalled on the conversion due to financing issues and a declining tourism sector, with just three of the units anywhere close to being habitable. 

Planning gave permission for the phased development and occupation of the site in 2022, but now the applicants want to convert it instead into two four-bedroom, five two-bedroom and a one-bedroom homes.  

Gardens and parking, landscaping. Converting part of the agricultural land to domestic curtilage and parking and pedestrian access in line with previously approved applications. 

The Mess was built in 1943 under the watch of the German forces in the middle of the battery complex. 

Watch: How the building has changed since the Occupation. Credit: Guernsey Bunkers. 

Forced labourers, mostly Spanish republicans who fled the Franco regime, built the fortification and associated buildings. They were housed at the neighbouring Lager Westmark, which is now a housing estate.  

Festung Guernsey described the building as “a purpose-built battery mess, with cellar for beer and stores can be found lower down in the valley to the east of gun position No.3. 

“The concrete block walls of the building remain intact; the roof structure having been allowed to fall into disrepair and vanish completely.” 

A roof has been reinstalled since then as part of the works to convert it to self-catering units. 

It’s proposed to install an information board near the main access track on Rue De Lorier to explain the history of the building in the context of the Mirus Battery. 

The applicants are also seeking to demolish the dower wing of the main house at La Pointe Farm and replace it with a one-bedroom single-storey home and detached garage. 

They were granted planning permission in 2023 to subdivide the main house and wind to create a new property.  

The site falls Outside of the Centres on an Agricultural Priority Area under the Island Development Plan. 

You can view the application FULL/2024/1134 HERE.