Plans to extend a caravan storage facility near Stepaside have been submitted to the county council.

In an application through agent Gethin Beynon, Noel Richards seeks permission to extend an existing caravan storage facility at Merrixton House Farm.

The application states: “The application site adjoins an authorised storage facility for caravans and boats. The proposal seeks permission to extend the caravan storage facility to the north, which would cover a site area of 2,990 square metres. The extended site would be enclosed by a Pembrokeshire hedge bank and have a compacted hardcore material finish.”

“No alterations are proposed to the access arrangements which would remain the same. Movements associated with the caravan storage business would be similar as extended storage area would not necessarily result in a direct increased capacity in the number of units, but allow the existing storage facility flexibility to store larger scale touring caravans.”

It stresses: “The main purpose of the extended storage facility is to improve vehicle movements around the existing storage facility and reduce the congested nature of the existing storage site arrangement. No members of the public visit the storage facility as for safety and insurance purposes, the owners of the storage facility provide a collection and store service. The extension of the storage facility would add to the efficiency of the operation and diversification of the existing rural enterprise to secure and create additional employment.”

It goes on to say: “It is also worth noting that the storage compound is owner managed for safety and security purposes where they park and collect caravans for storage purposes from the locality. The development would therefore not result in an influx of visitor vehicular numbers and movements in and around the storage compound would be owner operated.”

The application will be considered by county planners at a later date.