Tenby councillors have asked Pembrokeshire County Council for reassurances that the timescale for building the proposed Brynhir housing development is ‘back on track.

PCC housing officer Nia Davies had written to the town council to explain that it had been the local authority’s intention to submit a planning application in Autumn of 2022 for the scheme - however, she stated that more time was needed to review the site plan and design.

“We continue to work with our appointed consultants to bring forward a definitive design of properties for the site based on its topography and type/size of dwellings required to address the housing need of the area,” she stated.

“Although we have previously shown a number of 116 in public consultations, this is an indicative figure which is yet to be finalised.

“It is our intention to continue to work with our consultants to refine the site design and bring this forward to a pre-application consultation in spring/early summer 2023.

“This may, in turn, have an impact on the timescales we first provided for completion of the site which were originally summer 2026. We will keep you updated of this as and we have more information,” she added.

In 2018, the local authority which already owned the 15-acre site, purchased the land for £4million using its Housing Revenue Account (HRA), and outline planning permission for a development of 144 properties was granted in 2018, but progress on the scheme was initially held up due to the pandemic.

Discussing the correspondence with his fellow Tenby town council members, Cllr Laurence Blackhall said that there continued that there was a concern that this timetable had ‘slipped slightly’.

“We have people being made homeless now, and being sent to live further afield. The local need is now,” he told his colleagues.

“We should respond that we welcome the updated information, but we are concerned and would like to have some discussion with PCC to ensure that we will be back on track.”

Cllr Blackhall said that he also wished to refer to the advertisement that had been placed in the local newspaper by the ‘Tenby Greenspace Preservation Society’ with the campaign group objecting to the plans, concerned that the seaside town’s last remaining greenfield site will be lost.

He told members that he felt that it was important that, when things are published in the media, they counter things that they believe to be incorrect.

“Some of the claims are unfair and it is important they are countered,” stated Cllr Blackhall.

“Firstly, there is no pot with £40m of money for spending on other services in Tenby if the development does not go ahead.

“This is HRA money and the only reason this figure quoted is because Cllr Williams asked a question. This money is only available for housing, it is earmarked.

“Yes, the original plan was for 144 homes. The reason it is now going to be less is because PCC have listened to concerns and created a 10-metre buffer zone and walk way,” he continued.

“There is also a SUDS system which is in response to people who are concerned with flooding.

“The reason for the allocation of one bed dwellings is that it is in accordance with demand across the county. The greatest demand is for single person dwellings.

Cllr Duncan Whitehurst said that the SUDS plan was an improvement but there was still an issue with drainage. However, the plans were totally different from those originally provided and showed that the applicants have listened, adding that the scheme was ‘looking positive’.

It was resolved that the town council write and thank PCC for the update and ask them for a catch-up meeting in the New Year.