The Seymour Hotels group, which owns La Fantaisie on Belvedere Hill, says the property is rotting away which is making it impossible to repair.

Deputy Lyndon Farnham, the politician responsible for tourism, had asked the States to remove it from a list of special buildings.

But members voted to keep the special status of the property on Wednesday.

Extensive renovation

Deputy Lyndon Farnham said the building had had so much work carried out on it over the years that it should no longer be on the list.

He said: "It has had some extensive renovation and approved extensions, most recently in 1982, and extensive approved development on practically all sides."

But others, including Senator Stuart Syvret, said such pieces of Jersey warrant being preserved.

Senator Stuart Syvret said: "There is an intrinsic importance in protecting architecturally important sites and historical sites, regardless of whether the public can actually see them or not.

"It is important for future generations that its society has some kind of stewardship."