The applicant behind a planning proposal to turn the former RNLI lifeboat hut at Tenby harbour, into a food and takeaway outlet, has won an appeal against the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s decision, to refuse the application.

Last year, Ruby Goodrick sought permission from PCNPA planners to turn the old RNLI lifeboat store into a takeaway cold food outlet, to operate between 10am to 10pm, seven days a week.

A supporting statement accompanying the application said she had secured a five-year lease from Pembrokeshire County Council to use the site.

The outlet was proposed to be called ‘Trulys@The Harbour’ - building on the success of the applicant’s mother’s former sandwich shop in the town called ‘Truly Scrumptious’ (which the applicant has since returned to on South Parade, opening ‘Trulys Sandwich Shop’ towards the end of 2025).

The application for the harbour site however, was turned down by members of PCNPA’s development management committee last year; and objected to by members of Tenby Town Council and Tenby Civic Society.

At the meeting of PCNPA’s development management committee, refusal, against officer recommendations, was moved by Cllr Simon Hancock, who said: “It’s a commendable enterprise but I just feel this is the wrong location, it’s almost an alien feature in what is a working harbour,” adding: “With regret I’m going to move we refuse this application.”

He was joined by county councillor for Tenby’s south ward, Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall, who said she was “all for new businesses in the town, especially for young people,” but worried about a potential precedent being set by approval.

However, this month, on April 13, R H Duggan BSc (Hons) DipTP MRTPI an Inspector appointed by the Welsh Ministers, has passed the appeal, granting planning permission for the change of use from lifeboat storage unit to takeaway food outlet (A1).

“Although the appeal site is located just outside the town centre boundary and the proposed scheme would, therefore, be in conflict with Policy 56 of the LDP, I consider that a small scale cold food takeaway outlet in this location would not undermine the town centre of Tenby or its retail function and would not have any impact on its future viability and vitality,” stated the planning inspector in their report.

“To the contrary, the development would complement the role of the town centre by contributing to having a mix of uses within this edge of centre location. Indeed, I noted that there are other takeaway outlets located close by in the main part of the harbour area, and at the time of my visit, these were very busy with customers.

“Whilst there would be instances of queuing outside the premises at busier times I am not persuaded that this would cause conflict with other users of the harbour or cause any hazard with harbour vehicles.

“The development would complement the activities taking place within this working harbour and those using the harbour for other leisure activities and would not have an adverse impact on the character of the harbour area.”