Protected status of Guernsey bunker changed by planners

Wednesday, 10 December 2025 08:50

Picture courtesy of Guernsey Bunker Archives.

The Planning Committee has reversed a decision made earlier this year is to give a bunker protected monument status.

Protected monuments in Guernsey are a site or structure of significant historical interest, and owners have little scope to alter them.

For many years now, planners have been able to list important buildings 'ad hoc' as applications to alter them are filed, but many now consider this unfair.

The gun bunker at Perelle was hastily listed as a protected monument this summer when its owner applied to make alterations to turn it into a home.

Experts say it is a rare dual purpose unit, designed for German air force use but used as coastal defence to cover the bay against an enemy landing, and so should receive protection.

But at a recent planning meeting, members voted unanimously to overturn that decision, listing the bunker as a protected building, where some alterations could potentially be made.

Planning president Neil Inder says the decision at Perelle is part of a wider move to help those who buy protected buildings, and want to renovate them:

“I can understand people’s frustrations with this.

"You buy an old house, you want to restore it, so you do all the right things and submit a planning application, and then - seemingly out of nowhere - it’s listed.

“It might have been done for a good reason in the past, but it doesn’t seem fair anymore.

"So we’re going to look at this and see what it would take to change it.

"We can’t promise it’ll be easy, but we have to explore it. We can’t be punishing the very people who are trying to improve our heritage buildings.”

Planners will now look at the system of 'ad hoc' listings and any received will be reviewed by a full planning committee.