A Tenby resident has welcomed Pembrokeshire Coast National Park's decision to back down over their controversial homes for locals plan.
At an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday, the authority considered its position following recent High Court judgement regarding its refusal of planning applications which do not safeguard the aims of the authority's local and essential needs housing policy (known as Policy 47).
"This is a key issue in the emerging Joint Unitary Development Plan - the development plan for Pembrokeshire which will guide future development in the county," explained a National Park spokesman after the meeting. The JUDP will go to public inquiry in January, and is likely to be finally adopted in early 2005.
"It was emphasised that the court judgement does not affect the merits or validity of Policy 47 - that will be decided as a result of the public inquiry - but rather whether the authority can continue to protect potential development sites from 'premature' unconditioned permissions," continued the spokesman.
The effect of the decision, and the steps taken by the authority on Wednesday, is that applications for the development of four housing plots or less will not be refused on the ground of 'prematurity' unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Those cases that have already been determined will now be reviewed on this basis, and where appropriate, individual tied consents released, and those that have been refused invited to re-apply free of charge.
Mrs. Lynn Delabertouche, of Sherbourne, Sutton Street, whose case was at the centre of July's High Court action welcomed the decision.
"It's good news," said Mrs. Delabertouche, who converted her home into flats which she wanted to sell on the open market.
"The National Park have done the right thing."