Exactly three years to the day of Tenby losing one of its most prominent sea-front buildings in a bank holiday blaze, plans to redevelop the site were this week unanimously approved by members of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority's development management committee.

Seven applications relating to the re-development of the fire-ravaged Gatehouse Hotel and other connected sites were brought before the committee at their meeting on Wednesday morning at the National Park Offices, Llanion Park, Pembroke Dock.

The combined proposal was seeking consent for 62 residential units, a 68-bed hotel, 15 apartment/hotel suites, 10 commercial units, within the former hotel and Playhouse Cinema and Royal Lion Hotel site, the garage site fronting Deer Park and adjacent to the property Clifton Rock, and on the former Delphi Hotel site in South Parade.

A public car park adjacent to the cinema and a new public area fronting White Lion Street were also included in the proposals, along with some alterations to the junction of White Lion Street with The Norton.

A suite of applications for similar proposals was refused last year for a number of reasons, including the design and impact of the plans in the Conservation Area, and a lack of affordable housing in compliance with the National Park's adopted policy.

Representing the developers for the project, Simon Fry told the committee that they and designers C2J Architects, had held extensive pre-application discussions with National Park officers to get the plans for the development right.

"We understand that every aspect of the scheme needs to be right, and that the building in place of the former Gatehouse Hotel needs to be right for Tenby.

"We hope that this development will revitalise the top end of Tenby, which is very much needed," added Mr. Fry.

Referring to the Gatehouse site aspect of the scheme, local member Clr. Mike Evans explained how that particular area of Tenby had suffered in recent years, since the hotel had burnt down.

"It's neglect that has got us where we are in that part of town and Tenby has suffered as a consequence," he claimed. "The policing of getting the detail and design right for this scheme is now critical and the National Park will have to put a tremendous amount of its resources into making sure that happen."

Although he welcomed the scheme, Clr. Evans did take issue with design elements concerning improvements to the width of the highway and pavements at the junction of White Lion Street and The Norton, feeling that not enough had been done by the developers to ensure that the road in question would be improved sufficiently.

"Improvements to that junction is one of the key elements to this development; it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to improve that junction, which is one of the main routes into the town, and we need to get it right," he stressed.

"Every consultee has recommended improvements to the road as part of this development, yet looking at the designs, the developers seem to have failed to do this in my opinion.

"The chance is there now to do it, so they have to offer the town something with regards to this aspect," he added, saying that he would like to see the new hotel on the Gatehouse site set back a little further, allowing for a wider road so that vehicles could turn easier, a larger pavement area for pedestrians and a pillar on the Royal Lion Hotel to prevent vehicles encroaching

Vicky Hirst, head of development management for the planning authority, said that although the Highways Authority had given their support to the design of the scheme, if the developers agreed to the compromise set out by by Clr. Evans, then conditions could be set to see that greater improvements were made to the junction.

The developers agreed to this and Clr. Evans said he was happy with the outcome.

Committee member David Ellis congratulated officers and developers for coming up with proposals that were in his opinion "a lot better" than the last set of plans.

"It's much of an improvement and the owners and architects have a fantastic clean slate now to develop this site.

"The town of Tenby deserves the highest level of restoration for these facades, but as always, the devil will be in the detail, and it will be so important to get the details for this development right," remarked Mr. Ellis.

Speaking on other aspects of the whole scheme, Mr. Ellis said it was regrettable that the Delphi building in South Parade was to be demolished, as he felt that its design had historical elements that he would like to see retained.

It was also vitally important to retain the stone work on the wall by the memorial gardens adjacent to the Delphi.

Clr. Mike Evans stated that he would like to see a condition in place so that the affordable housing aspects relating to the Delphi part of the scheme, would ensure criteria for local occupancy.

Members of the development management committee unanimously approved all seven separate applications for the multi-million pound mixed-use scheme.

"This is a major step forward and let's hope that something gets off the ground now, as it is sorely needed to benefit that area of Tenby," said the committee's chairman Clr. Michael Williams.