A multi-million pound regeneration scheme in Pembroke Dock was visited by HRH The Earl of Wessex on Wednesday. The Earl was on a four-hour visit to Pembrokeshire where he also viewed an exhibition depicting the role of the Milford Haven waterway in the past, present and future of the county. Five years ago, the Dockyard town was awarded a £2 million Townscape Heritage Award from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to be spent on bringing derelict and underused buildings back into use. The centrepiece of the scheme - which has seen the restoration of a number of Listed Buildings - is the Garrison Chapel, a 170-year-old building situated just inside the Dockyard walls. It is the only surviving Georgian classical church in Wales, but over the years fell into a state of disrepair. The chapel is well on its way to being restored to its former glory and with the first phase of the restoration complete, an occupier is sought. The Earl visited the chapel where he will meet Pembrokeshire County councillor Brian Hall, the chairman of the Pembroke Dock Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI), the body responsible for delivering the scheme. Said Clr. Hall: "We are delighted that The Earl is taking the time to visit Pembroke Dock and to see for himself the restoration work carried out to conserve the town's historic buildings." Lindsay Cuddy, HLF Committee for Wales member, said: "Historic buildings tell the story of a town, they make it individual and unique, and the best way to save and maintain these heritage gems is to get them back into use. "The THI scheme is a great way of using heritage as a springboard for regeneration and investment. We want to maximise the recognition and use of Pembroke Dock's heritage to help attract people and businesses back to the town." After meeting representatives of other partners in the project, including the HLF, the Welsh Development Agency, the Milford Haven Docks Company and the Town Council, HRH was briefed on the £2 billion developments in the energy sector taking place on the MilfordHaven waterway. Among those he talked to were representatives of Exxon Mobil/Qator Gas and Dragon LNG who are currently developing Liquefied Natural Gas terminals and plants in the Haven, Marathon Oil which is exploring for gas in the Irish Sea from a base at Pembroke Dock, and the Pembrokeshire Technium, a new centre for energy-related research and development for small and medium-sized companies, being built at the Cleddau Bridge Business Park. Afterwards, The Earl visited the dockyard's two giant hangars - also part of the HLF funded scheme - one of which has already been renovated to provide new working space for industry. During the Second World War they housed Sunderland flying boats and HRH met local historian John Evans, a noted author on the aircraft and their relationship with Pembroke Dock. After lunch on board the landing ship, RFA Sir Galahad, moored at the Carr Jetty, The Earl was taken down the Haven on board the Milford Haven Port Authority's 'Robert Hastie' to view work on the LNG gas terminals and other industrial developments. He then visited the Port Authority's headquarters in Milford Haven where he met its chairman, Bob Clarke, and was shown how shipping operations are controlled in the port. Before his departure, HRH also viewed the work of the Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum and meet some of its members.