> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.thequarry.media/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # R H Gaudion wins approval for contemporary development with strict expansion controls - URL: https://www.thequarry.media/r-h-gaudion-wins-approval-for-contemporary-development-with-strict-expansion-controls/ - Published: 2026-10-05T08:50:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-05T10:51:53.000Z - Author: The Quarry - Tags: News - Gaudion Properties Ltd wins approval to demolish dwelling at Longue Rue, Vale, and replace with contemporary retail unit and two-bedroom flat - Strict conditions prevent commercial expansion, limiting overall indoor retail and storage increase to 13.4 per cent across entire site - Residential unit must be completed before retail unit can operate, ensuring housing commitment is honoured - External retail display prohibited in specified areas and retail premises cannot operate as separate independent unit - Contemporary design approved despite contrast with traditional area, with landscaping required to soften visual impact Listen to this article 0:00 /0 1× Planning permission has been approved for a contemporary two-storey building combining retail and residential use at Gaudions, Longue Rue, Vale, subject to extensive conditions designed to prevent commercial expansion. Gaudion Properties Ltd received approval on 1 October 2026 to demolish an existing 2½ storey dwelling and outbuildings and replace them with a modern building housing a retail unit and a two-bedroom flat. The development will extend the operations of the established R H Gaudion and Sons Ltd retail site, which operates as a fuel service station, hardware and DIY centre, garden and fencing centre, and animal and pet feed centre. The replacement building features contemporary design elements including flat roofs, a standing seam zinc clad mono-pitch roof, black corrugated metal cladding, natural timber cladding and rendered walls. The development also includes signage installation, boundary wall alterations, vehicle access relocation and replacement gates. [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/48/0b/480bfed6-f3f7-4a48-9efe-fae23adf5d03/content/images/2026/10/guernsey-record-3-.png)](https://record.thequarry.media/?ref=thequarry.media) The approval hinges on a detailed assessment of whether the proposal constitutes a reorganisation or expansion of the existing retail business, a critical distinction under Policy OC4 concerning retail outside designated centres. Whilst the proposed additional retail, storage and staff amenity space represents approximately 70 per cent of the new building, planning officers determined the overall increase across the entire existing site is limited to 13.4 per cent. Indoor retail floor space will increase by 20.5 per cent, whilst indoor storage space will rise by 5.7 per cent. The applicant justified the additional space as necessary to display existing product lines, particularly power tools and sundry items, which are currently housed in cramped conditions. The space will enable more effective product display, allow trade events to be held indoors rather than outside where they are vulnerable to weather, create accessible retail aisles and support continuous supply of imported goods for the construction industry and local community. A photographic survey demonstrated that the majority of items currently displayed outside the hardware store would be relocated indoors, with exceptions for the largest ladders, metal incinerator bins and plastic bins. The planning officer concluded: "On balance, in this particular case, there is scope to consider the proposals are of a limited scale comprising minor alterations to facilitate the continuation of the existing retail use at its current level of operation, when the proposals are considered in context of the site as a whole, in accordance with Policy OC4." The approval includes several strict conditions to ensure the development functions as a reorganisation rather than expansion. Prior to first use of the approved retail unit, details of the revised layout of the existing hardware store must be submitted to and approved in writing by the authority, and the revised layout must be completed in accordance with approved details. External retail display associated with the hardware store is prohibited on land to the south-east of the existing hardware store or to the north-west and north-east of the proposed hardware store. The retail premises can only be used for purposes ancillary or ordinarily incidental to the existing retail use of the site as a whole and cannot be used as a separate independent retail use. A particularly notable condition requires the residential unit to be fully completed and made available for use prior to the first use of the approved retail unit, ensuring the development delivers the replacement housing that forms part of the justification for approval. The replacement dwelling substantially exceeds Guernsey Technical Standards minimum internal space standards and best practice standards. The officer's report notes the dwelling will provide adequate daylight, sunlight and privacy, with access to a balcony and small amenity space within the frontage. The contemporary design approach generated specific planning commentary. The officer's report acknowledged that the existing dwelling and roadside walls make a positive contribution to the character and appearance of the area and that the contemporary design would contrast with the style of dwellings within the area. However, the officer concluded that considering the industrial nature of the adjacent retail site, it would not look out of context. The assessment noted the property is not within a conservation area and considering the flexibility and personal choice in design matters in less sensitive areas, the proposal is unlikely to have an adverse effect on the character and appearance. The loss of existing traditional roadside walls was noted as unfortunate, but the officer determined the retention of these walls would not reflect the contemporary design of the replacement building and their replacement as proposed is unlikely to have a significant adverse effect on the character and appearance of the area. Replacement frontage walls forming the south-west and north-west boundaries must be completed prior to first occupation of any part of the development. A comprehensive landscaping scheme must be submitted and implemented within specified timeframes, including treatment of all ground surfaces, full details of tree and hedge planting, and planting schedules noting species, sizes, numbers and densities. Tree planting within the frontage is required to soften the visual impact of the development. The officer's report acknowledged the proposal will result in increased mass close to the neighbouring property to the south-east and will include two first floor windows facing toward the neighbouring property. First floor windows in the south-east elevation must be glazed with obscure glass to a minimum of level 3 on the Pilkington scale, which must thereafter be retained at all times to minimise the effect on the privacy and amenities of nearby residents. The officer determined that together with the obscure glazing requirement, the degree of overlooking from existing windows and the layout of the neighbouring property, the proposal is unlikely to result in a material adverse effect on the amenities of neighbouring residents. Alterations to the retail and residential access would enhance road safety through improvements to sightlines and reducing the need for vehicles to cross the centre line of the highway when exiting in a southerly direction. Adequate car and bicycle parking is included for the residential unit and the proposal is deemed unlikely to result in any significant road safety or traffic management concerns. The approval imposes detailed sustainability requirements. Solar panels cannot be installed until construction details have been submitted to and agreed in writing by the authority. Subsequently, the development cannot be occupied or used until solar panels and all other sustainable design features set out in the sustainability statement have been installed and made operational. The development must be carried out in accordance with the submitted site waste management plan, with no part of the development to be occupied or brought into use until a verification report has been submitted to the authority. The approval includes standard conditions requiring development to be carried out in accordance with approved plans, to begin within three years from the date of grant, and to comply with all applicable requirements of the Building Regulations. The permission will cease to have effect on 30 September 2029 unless development is commenced by that date. The site is designated as outside of the centres. A parcel of land to the north-west of the fuel service station is subject to an area tree protection order. Relevant planning history includes a pre-application enquiry in September 2025 regarding demolishing the existing dwelling and replacing it with retail and residential accommodation, and permission granted in July 2023 for change of use of agricultural land to car park area with associated landscaping. No representations were received from the public. The decision was made by A J Rowles, director of planning, following assessment against policies from the Island Development Plan including OC4 on retail outside of the centres, GP8 on design, GP9 on sustainable development, GP13 on householder development, and policies IP6, IP7 and IP9 concerning transport infrastructure and highway safety. Section 68(1) of the Land Planning and Development Law 2005 provides a right of appeal on the merits against a decision to grant planning permission subject to conditions to the Planning Tribunal. An appeal must be made before expiry of the period of six months beginning with 1 October 2026. ## Q&A **Q: What is being built at Longue Rue, Vale?** A: A contemporary two-storey building containing a retail unit to extend existing hardware store operations and a two-bedroom residential flat. The development will replace an existing 2½ storey dwelling and outbuildings. **Q: Why has the planning authority imposed strict conditions on the retail element?** A: To ensure the development constitutes a reorganisation rather than expansion of the retail business, in accordance with Policy OC4 concerning retail outside designated centres. Conditions prohibit external retail display in specified areas, prevent the unit operating as a separate independent retail business, and require details of the revised layout of the existing hardware store to be approved before the new retail unit can be used. **Q: When must the residential flat be completed?** A: The residential unit must be fully completed and made available for use prior to the first use of the approved retail unit. This condition ensures the development delivers the replacement housing and prevents a scenario where only the commercial element is completed.