Funeral parlour approved for Jamaica Hall in face of local opposition
- Serenity Funeral Services granted planning permission to convert ground floor of Jamaica Hall, Le Bouet, into funeral parlour despite nine letters of objection from local residents
- Residents raised concerns about site suitability, traffic and parking issues, health and environmental risks, and appropriateness of location adjacent to Jamaica Inn pub
- Planning officer concluded proposal complies with Island Development Plan policies and that site had been unsuccessfully marketed for four years
- Permission restricted to ground floor only, non-illuminated signage, with separate applications required for mechanical equipment and any illumination
- Office of Environmental Health and Health and Safety Executive raised no objections, with noise level controls and odour assessments required for any future mechanical systems
A funeral parlour will open at Jamaica Hall in Le Bouet after planning permission was granted despite nine letters of objection from local residents.
Serenity Funeral Services received approval on 29 June 2026 to convert the ground floor of the building into a funeral parlour and install non-illuminated signage on the north-west elevation.
The decision has sparked concern among residents who questioned the suitability of the constrained urban location for such a facility.
Local residents raised objections centred on site suitability, traffic concerns, and the appropriateness of locating a funeral parlour adjacent to the Jamaica Inn pub. Objectors argued the body reception entrance opens directly onto Bouillon Lane, a narrow public lane, with no service yard, covered loading area, or screening.
Residents highlighted limited on-site parking with no disabled parking provision and questioned whether the narrow lane could accommodate larger funeral vehicles. Concerns were also raised about potential conflicts with other road users, with calls for a Traffic Impact Assessment.
Health and environmental concerns included worries about handling deceased persons and clinical waste in a residential area, with residents expressing concern about potential toxic fumes and odours. The eastern edge of the site is located within a Flood Risk Area, raising concerns about potential pollution from waste water.
Additional objections included assertions that there is no requirement for additional funeral services on the island and that a more discreet site should be considered.
However, the planning officer's report concluded the proposal complies with Policy MC5(C) of the Island Development Plan, which supports the change of use away from storage and distribution uses where the alternative use contributes positively to the vitality and viability of the relevant Main Centre.
The agent confirmed the site had been actively marketed for four years without success, exceeding the 12-month marketing requirement. The proposed use is considered to provide an essential local service.
The planning officer concluded that the proposed use would not result in additional noise and disturbance beyond that of the existing light industrial use. Regarding the use of Bouillon Lane for loading and unloading, the report stated this is acceptable as it is a highway for public use, with any blocking issues being a matter for the Police rather than planning.
On the lack of screening or canopy for the side entrance, the officer noted that the narrow width of Bouillon Lane naturally restricts views from Le Bouet, as would the vehicle parked adjacent to the side doors. The perceived lack of discretion for families was deemed not to be a material planning consideration that could warrant refusal.
Concerns about health implications and chemical storage were assessed by the Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation and the Health and Safety Executive, neither of which raised objections. As the building lies outside the designated flood risk area, there was not considered to be a significant risk of flooding or pollution.
The officer noted that car parking is provided to the front of the building and the site is situated within a sustainable location close to public transport links and car parks. The proposal was therefore not considered to cause detriment to highway safety or traffic management, effectively dismissing calls for a Traffic Impact Assessment.
Jamaica Hall is located within the Main Centre Outer Area and within a Conservation Area. The building is pre-1900 and situated to the south of Le Bouet, with a small parking area to the front. The Jamaica Inn pub abuts the site to the east, with residential development to the south-west and north.
Under Section 38 of The Land Planning and Development (Guernsey) Law, 2005, the Authority must pay special attention to the desirability of preserving and enhancing the character and appearance of Conservation Areas. The officer concluded that the relatively small sign, being non-illuminated and appropriate in scale, would not negatively impact the visual character or appearance of the surrounding area or Conservation Area.
The planning permission applies strictly to the ground floor only, with key restrictions including no permission for changing the use of the first floor, which would require a separate application. No standalone office accommodation is approved under this consent.
Any form of illumination for signage, whether external or internal, will require separate planning permission. Installation of any mechanical ventilation or refrigeration units will also require a separate application.
The Office of Environmental Health and Pollution Regulation noted that any new mechanical fixed plant and equipment would be required to operate at a noise level 5 dB(A) below the existing LA90 background level. Regarding embalming operations mentioned in the application, the response indicated that mechanical ventilation would likely be necessary to extract odours, and any future application for extraction systems would need to include an odour risk assessment demonstrating sufficient odour control measures.
The Health and Safety Executive was consulted because the Guernsey Energy gas mixing plant in St Peter Port is classified as a hazardous installation. The HSE's assessment determined that planning applications at this distance from the processing plant are treated as "Development in Inner Zone" with a Level of Sensitivity of Level 1. The HSE guidance was therefore "Don't Advise Against" development.
The HSE confirmed that its primary consideration relates to the number and vulnerability of occupants exposed to a potential major accident at the gas processing plant, and it is unlikely that chemicals stored on site at the funeral home would materially affect the HSE's land-use planning advice.
The officer's report specifically addressed objections relating to the applicant's alleged behaviour and conduct in personal and professional capacity. These matters were deemed to relate to the character of the applicant rather than the use of the land and were therefore not material planning considerations.
The officer also noted that objections regarding whether there is a need for additional funeral services on the island is not a material planning consideration in the determination of a planning application.
The development must commence within three years of the grant date, by 28 June 2029, or the permission will lapse.
Under Section 68(1) of the Land Planning and Development (Guernsey) Law 2005, there is a right of appeal on the merits against a decision to grant planning permission subject to conditions to the Planning Tribunal, which is independent of the States of Guernsey. Any appeal must be made before 29 December 2026.
The decision was made by A.J. Rowles, Director of Planning, Planning Service, States of Guernsey.
Q&A
Q: What restrictions have been placed on the funeral parlour permission?
A: The permission applies to the ground floor only. No standalone office accommodation is approved. Only non-illuminated signage is permitted, with any illumination requiring separate permission. Installation of mechanical ventilation or refrigeration units will require a separate application, and any future mechanical equipment must operate at a noise level 5 dB(A) below the existing background level.
Q: What were the main concerns raised by local residents?
A: Residents objected on grounds of site suitability, noting the body reception entrance opens directly onto narrow Bouillon Lane with no service yard or screening. They raised concerns about limited parking, no disabled parking provision, difficulties manoeuvring funeral vehicles, health and environmental risks from handling deceased persons and clinical waste, and the appropriateness of locating a funeral parlour next to the Jamaica Inn pub.
Q: Can the decision be appealed?
A: Yes, under Section 68(1) of the Land Planning and Development (Guernsey) Law 2005, there is a right of appeal to the Planning Tribunal, which is independent of the States of Guernsey. Any appeal must be made before 29 December 2026, six months from the decision date.
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