A planning application for the redevelopment of Narberth’s Blackpool Mill has been turned down this week.

The £2.5m project submitted by Bluestone National Park Resort Ltd, which sought to transform the nearby Grade II Listed building into a ‘heritage tourist facility’ was refused by members of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s development management committee on Wednesday.

The application was previously referred to PCNPA’s development committee back in May, however, it was deferred at the request of the applicant in order to allow them to seek to address the recommended reasons for refusal.

However, a report from PCNPA’s case planning officer Nicola Gandy that went before members at the meeting explained that since May meetings had taken place between the applicant, the applicant’s agent and the Local Planning Authority in order to discuss potential alterations to the scheme and additional information required, however, no further information or amended plans were submitted.

Objecting to the plans, Llawhaden Community Council expressed concerns relating to - the road being unsuitable for extra traffic; and the impact on the public right of way in front of the Mill.

The community council also stated that the idea of a steam train being introduced as part of the project would ‘absolutely destroy the tranquillity’ of the area, with pedestrians, dog walkers, cyclists and people with small children potentially being put at ‘great risk’ walking along this road with the excess traffic.

In recommending refusal, planning officer Ms Gandy stated in her report: “The proposed development will by virtue of its scale, design and location will result in a harmful impact on the special qualities of the National Park, particularly in regard to the adverse impact on tranquility and the sense of remoteness of the application site and surrounding area. The application is, therefore, contrary to Polices 8 and 15 of the adopted Local Development Plan.

“The proposed development will have a harmful impact on the setting of Grade II listed Mill building and ancillary buildings and the setting of the Grade II listed High Toch farmhouse, with particular regard to the proposed railway, platform, station, fencing and events barn.

“In regard to the highway impact of the development, the application is lacking a traffic monitoring scheme and highway improvement details as to provide the local planning authority with sufficient confidence that the development would not result in a detrimental impact to highway and pedestrian safety.

“Whilst, it is acknowledged that the development will result in an economic benefit to the area and will restore a Grade II listed building, the harmful impacts of the development on the special qualities of the National Park and the setting of the listed buildings are not outweighed by the economic factors.”

Development management committee members agreed to support the officer’s recommendations and refuse the application.

They also refused an accompanying application for engineering works to facilitate the land train route from the main resort centre, to link with a newly refurbished and extended car park to serve the Blackpool Mill proposal.