A CALL to keep the use of outbuildings “openly” used as AirBnB holiday lets without planning permission in a Pembrokeshire village just months after the new owners moved in has been approved.

In a certificate of lawful development application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Mr and Mrs Jagger, through agent Preseli Planning Ltd, sought a certificate for the use of two buildings, known as ‘the Bothy’ and ‘The Potting Shed’ as self-contained short-term holiday lets in the grounds of Honeystone, East Williamston, near the village church.

The use without permission starting back in 2019.

An application for a certificate of lawful development allows an applicant to keep a development if they can provide proof of occupancy or use over a prolonged period.

A supporting statement said: “The applicants have owned the property since November 2018, before which time the buildings were used for purposes ancillary to the main dwellinghouse. Shortly after their purchase, the structures were adapted and converted into two independent short-term holiday let dwellings. As such a Certificate of Lawful Development is sought to establish the lawfulness of the development.”

It added: “The buildings have been openly used by the applicants as short term let holiday dwellinghouses since 2019. No attempt has been made to conceal the development at any time. Planning applications in the locality, proximity of the public highway to the site and advertisements provided ample opportunity for the site and use to be investigated.

“Mr and Mrs Jagger moved to the property in November 2018, and the buildings were already on site. It is understood that the buildings were partially lined with insulation and had services connected, but they were ancillary structures to the main dwelling, being a hobby room (The Potting Shed) and workshop (The Bothy) for the former owners.

“In January 2019 the structures were converted for residential purposes and first used for short-term holiday lets in January (The Bothy) and July (The Potting Shed) 2019. The uses have existed until now, bar normal vacancies and empty periods that you would expect with short term holiday lets.”

It said the properties had been occupied upwards of 100 nights a year since 2019, and over 150 since 2020, with booking records from private records as well as AirBnB, VRBO and Booking.com provided as evidence of use.

It said: “The multiple booking platforms provide clear and robust picture of the use,” adding: “Screenshots of the reviews from AirBnB website also corroborate the use and extent of the use”.

An officer report recommending approval, listing the evidence provided, said the timescale recorded had “achieved immunity from enforcement action.”

“It is considered that sufficient evidence has been submitted such that, on the balance of probabilities, the units have been used for residential accommodation in excess of four years. It is considered that a Certificate of Lawfulness can be issued.”