The organisation ‘Save Britain’s Heritage’ has called on Pembrokeshire County Council to safeguard Pembroke Dock’s precious Georgian and Victorian heritage.

Save Britain’s Heritage has objected to plans submitted to the County Council to infill four nationally listed maritime dock structures at the former Royal Dockyard of Pembroke Dock.

In correspondence to the council, the organisation has argued the proposed infilling would mean the total loss of a rare assemblage of late Georgian and early Victorian monuments.

The proposals, submitted by the Milford Haven Port Authority (MHPA), seek to infill two grade II listed slipways, a rare grade II listed timber pickling pond (used to season ships’ beams) and a grade II listed graving dock.

In their place, two 5-storey warehouses to house future ship building operations are proposed, as well as a giant concrete slipway, stretching out into the water alongside the grade II listed Hobbs point causeway.

The plans have drawn objections from local and national heritage groups, including the Commodore Trust (which has long fought to protect and revive the historic dockyard), the Georgian Group and Naval Dockyards Society.

Benedict Oakley, conservation officer at Save Britain’s Heritage said “If approved, these proposals would see a precious assemblage of listed naval monuments disappear from the heart of a conservation area and protected historic landscape.

“These plans risk making a mockery of the listing system designed to protect Wales’ historic environment.”

Adrian James, chair of the Commodore Trust, commented: “These plans will see the destruction of a rare, if not unique, group of listed monuments that are a testament to the industry that gave birth to Pembroke Dock, revived the fortunes of Pembroke and gave the Milford Haven waterway a place in Wales, UK and world history.”

Ann Coats, chair of the Naval Dockyard Society remarked: “The Royal Dockyard established at Pembroke Dock in 1814 was entirely unique: the only one in Wales, on the west coast of Britain, and the only one created solely as a shipbuilding facility.

“This application utterly negates the aims of the Pembroke Dockyard Conservation Area to conserve the listed dock, timber pond and slips which signify the origins of Pembroke Dock.”

The plans are available to view at the following link: https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/planning-applications/commenting-on-applications, us, using application reference number 20/0732/PA - with the deadline for objections January 29.