Proposals to revamp one of Pembrokeshire’s oldest surviving public houses whilst also building a three-storey luxury apartment complex to the rear have been refused by members of Saundersfoot’s Community Council, with councillors calling the plans ‘overbearing and intrusive to the heart’ of the seaside village.

Royal Oak plans
An artist's impression of how the development would look (Pegasus Planning Group Ltd)

The application submitted to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority by WH Evans Properties Ltd seeks to remodel and renovate the Royal Oak Inn situated on Saundersfoot’s Wogan Terrace and erect an apartment complex containing five apartments on land to the rear of the site.

The agents for the developers, Pegasus Planning Group Ltd have stated that the redevelopment of the Royal Oak Inn building will comprise of the demolition of the western two-storey extension at the end of the building, and also an existing extension to the north elevation, which will be replaced by a two-storey rear extension.

A first floor terrace, with access to the rear at the ground floor is proposed in place of the demolished western extension, whilst the existing residential accommodation in the first floor of the pub will be replaced with restaurant space.

Members of Saundersfoot Community Council had previously requested a site visit before making any recommendations on the plans. However, due to constraints regarding Planning Officers time, the Planning Authority was unable to facilitate the requested site meeting, suggesting that councillors may wish to arrange a site meeting with the developers.

Following a lengthy discussion at this month’s meeting, councillors formed the opinion that the submitted plans do not show the proposed three story development in context with the existing surroundings.

They stated that although the proposed development will be behind existing buildings it will be visible from a near distance by existing residents, businesses and persons accessing the heart of the village.

Councillors were of the view that the proposed plans do not preserve nor enhance the character or appearance of the conservation area in which the existing building is located, potentially causing an imbalance of the aesthetics of the village.

The following points were also raised by members of the Community Council:

• The proposed plans do not preserve any features of special architectural or historic interest which it currently possesses.

• The proposed plans would cause major overdevelopment of the plot, potentially being dominant, overbearing and intrusive to the heart of a conservation area and for the residents living within that area.

• Although not a planning consideration, the logistics of the building process would cause major problems to all road users.

Members went onto state that if the application were to be approved by PCNPA’s development management committee, they are concerned that it would set a precedence for future overdevelopment which does not preserve nor enhance the character or appearance of a historic village within a conservation area.

It was proposed and seconded that, considering all the points raised, the Community Council does not support this planning application, and request that the Planning Authority consider refusal of such, with a majority of councillors in favour of the recommendation which will be passed onto PCNPA.

The plans can be viewed online at the PCNPA website under: NP/22/0359/FUL