SANDPIPER VINERY owner Zouche Group is continuing to look at establishing a herb-growing venture on the site. The group, which owns mail-order vitamin company Healthy Direct, has twice been refused permission to build a herb-processing unit at the St Peter’s site.

It is understood that architects will now produce alternative plans for the 7.4-acre plot, which is currently unused.

Managing director Graham Winn said he wanted to keep working with the relevant States departments to keep the venture alive locally.

‘My family has been in business in Guernsey for nearly 30 years and we want this project to work here on the island,’ he said. ‘We are already at the heart of Guernsey’s diversified economy and a significant contributor to the island’s economy through our mail-order export companies, including Healthy Direct.

‘We see quality herb cultivation and extracts breathing life into the horticulture business, while also aiding our current health sector businesses.’

Mr Winn said the development would have other positive effects, including generating postal revenue, diversified employment and helping the environment. ‘We want a way forward that is good for Guernsey.’

Former deputy Dave Barrett, whose property is next to Sandpiper Vinery, won a Court of Appeal case against the Island Development Committee for granting in-principle permission to develop the herb-processing unit in contravention of land-use policies. He said yesterday that he would not mind the site being used in future.

‘I would welcome the re-use of the vinery, which requires no planning permission whatsoever,’ he said.

‘However, I will oppose either an office building or factory for the use of Healthy Direct and its associated companies.’

Mr Barrett said that the land was zoned for horticultural and agricultural use only. His original protest was that Zouche’s original application included plans for ancillary facilities, which amounted to a factory. ‘Because it is a vinery, it is derelict. It’s not cheap industrial land, it is for temporary use for horticulture or agriculture.’

Mr Barrett also questioned Zouche’s decision to pull its representation concerning the site out of the planning inquiry with only 24 hours’ notice.

‘The opportunity was there to go and say in front of the planning inspector that they wanted a herb centre, but they didn’t.’

He said the whole ‘Factorygate’ affair, which resulted in Mr Barrett going to judicial review and the Court of Appeal, was because proper procedure was not followed.

St Peter’s senior constable Tim Langlois said he would be keen to see the old glass utilised.

‘Our only concern was the size of the development and the implications of the change of use from purely horticultural to semi-industrial.

‘We voiced concerns several times about that, but on the whole we want to see the old glass being brought back to life. We look forward to viewing their plans.’

Commerce and Employment Department chief officer Nigel Lewis said that while the former Board of Industry and Horticulture Committee were supportive of Zouche’s plans, it was too early in the life of the new governmental structure to say what would happen in future.

‘It’s clear that they were supportive of the concept, particularly at political level. But the fact is that the new members do not include members of either of the old committees. We have met only once and it is a matter of being briefed.

‘I would hope they would be supportive of ventures that have value towards Guernsey industry but what the attitude of the new members will be, I cannot say. There has not been an approach from Zouche Group since Commerce and Employment was invented.’