Plans to redevelop a holiday park in Stepaside look set to be approved, despite objections raised by neighbours and the nearby Community Council.

An application submitted by Mr Huw Pendleton of Celtic Holiday Parks for the change of use of land for the siting of nine relocated static caravans, associated infrastructure, improvements to existing site access and ecological enhancement at Meadow House Holiday Park, Stepaside, will go before member of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s development management committee next week

The application is reported for determination by the Park’s committee as the officer recommendation for approval is contrary to the recommendation of Amroth Community Council who believe that the development should be refused.

The application was previously considered at a planning committee back in September of 2021 and following a site visit, legal advice was sought on the potential for attaching a legal agreement to relocate nine caravans approved by a previous permission to the site that is the subject of this current application. Legal advice confirmed that this was possible.

Several letters of objection have been put forward to PCNPA from nearby residents, raising matters of concern such as - Highway safety and increased congestion from any further development; Flooding risk from site and potential issues of surface water flooding; Unacceptable landscape and visual impact; Increased noise and emissions from cars parked at the caravans; Visual intrusion to neighbouring properties and impact on residential privacy, particularly due to the elevated nature of the site when compared to neighbouring properties, with the site visible in long distance views such as from Sandy Hill Road, in Saundersfoot and is considered a visual intrusion.

Objections also highlighted potential light pollution from the site, impacting on dark skies, wildlife and amenity.

A response to PCNPA from the clerk of Amroth Community Council, Kathryn Bradbury states: ‘Upon review, the Community Council does not consider that the proposed developments meet the requirements of the Local Development Plan.

“The proposals will add to caravan density, will actually be detrimental in visual impact and is contradictory to the mitigation requirements of the Supplementary Planning Guidance, where sites should be looking at reducing density and improving green spaces/trees, not increasing in size.

“Finally, we would bring to your attention that this planning application is, in our understanding, not significantly different to an earlier proposal made by the applicant several years ago, which was refused both by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and on appeal.

“Considering all of the above points and concerns raised by our residents, Amroth Community Council object to this this planning application.”

An application in 2011 to increase the number of caravan units at the holiday park which is situated to the south of Summerhill was refused on the basis of the policy position set out in the adopted local development plan at that time which was to restrict further caravan development.

The subsequent appeal was dismissed with the Inspector commenting that the additional lodges would be contrary to the plan policy and be “visually intrusive in the compact and intimate landscape in the vicinity of the appeal site.”

A report from planning case officer Kate Attrill that will go before the committee recommends to delegate powers to the Director of Planning and Park Direction to approve the application subject to an appropriate agreement made under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and subject to a lengthy list of conditions. Where an agreement is not completed within three months of the resolution of Committee is requested to also delegate powers to refuse the application.

Members of PCNPA’s development management committee will determine the applications when they meet on Wednesday, February 1.