Pembrokeshire County Council has again stressed that housing developments in the county aren’t used to provide accommodation for people from Birmingham or any other English cities.

In recent years, fears have been raised that housing developments in Pembrokeshire would house people from Birmingham, Liverpool, and other areas, which have been refuted by the council.

The council’s housing team says it has involved local communities in all new housing developments in the county, including Old School Lane, Johnston; Tudor Place, Tiers Cross; Sandy Hill, Broad Haven; Harcourt Close, Hook; Rose Haven Gardens, Rosemarket; Glan y Mor, Saundersfoot; and Golwg y Cleddau, Pembroke Dock.

Following recent social media comments on who will be allocated new homes, the council has said: “For new housing developments, properties are often allocated using a Local Lettings Policy. A Local Lettings Policy sets out specific local connection criteria that applicants must meet before they can be considered for a property within a particular development.

“The local community has an important role in shaping the Local Lettings Policy. Residents help decide what local connections are most important for their area: This may include: a minimum period of time someone has lived in the areas, employment within the area, children’s schooling arrangements, caring responsibilities for family members.

“The community also helps determine the length of time that constitutes a meaningful local connection and the geographical area that applicants should be connected to.”

Quoting a regular comment “you are allocating to people from Birmingham,” the council stated: “Pembrokeshire County Council does not have any agreement that reserves social housing for people from Birmingham, or any other area of the country.

“Properties are allocated through the Choice Homes Pembroke shire Housing Register, and applicants must meet the requirements set out within the relevant allocation policies.

“We recognise the frustration experienced by many local families who are struggling to access affordable housing. The limited availability of suitable homes remains a significant challenge across the county.

“Local Lettings Policies are designed to support people with a genuine connection to a particular area, helping them access suitable housing or return to a community where they have established roots.”

Back in 2022, after permission was granted for a 50-home social housing estate on land off Maesgwynne Lane, Fishguard, rumours surfaced that the development had been sold off to Birmingham City Council for overflow housing, dismissed by the developers as having “no truth whatsoever”.

Wales & West Housing rubbished the claims saying that they are completely untrue.

Birmingham City Council added at the time: “This is not something we are aware of here, so it appears to be an inaccurate rumour.”

More recently, claims Tenby’s Brynhir housing development will house “illegal immigrants” through purchases by an English council have been refuted by Pembrokeshire County Council.

Back in 2024, the scheme, with nearly 100 “local houses for local people” was approved by national park planners.

However, fears were raised that some of the site will house “illegal immigrants” via an English council, in that case Liverpool.

Tenby Esplanade
Pembrokeshire Council also commented on rumours circulating on social media this week, that ‘asylum seekers’ had been seen being moved into two seperate properties along The Esplanade in Tenby. (Observer pic)

Responding, a Pembrokeshire County Council spokesperson said: “These rumours are untrue. This site is owned and managed by the local authority. Allocations will be made to those from our Choice Homes register in accordance with a local connection lettings policy that will be developed in conjunction with the local town and community councils, and local community, in due course.”

The Council also commented on rumours circulating on social media this week, that ‘asylum seekers’ had been seen being moved into two seperate properties along The Esplanade in Tenby.

“The properties identified are not owned by Pembrokeshire County Council and are not known to be asylum seeker dispersal accommodation,” stated a spokesperson for PCC.

“We would caution against speculation regarding the identity, nationality or immigration status of individuals without evidence.

“Pembrokeshire welcomes visitors and residents from many different countries and communities, and the presence of people who may not appear to be local should not automatically give rise to assumptions about their circumstances or status.

“As a popular international visitor destination, Pembrokeshire regularly welcomes people from a wide range of backgrounds, and we would encourage all commentary on such matters to be informed by facts rather than conjecture,” they added.