More rapid progress is needed on the planned Brynhir housing development, members of Tenby Town Council have stated.

At their recent meeting, councillors were given a progress report from Pembrokeshire County Council which said that ‘Invitation to Tender’ for potential contractors should be ready to go live some time this month.

Also, decisions on reserved planning matters had still not been received from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority yet.

Brynhir plans
An artist’s impression of the housing on the Brynhir site, Tenby. (Pic: Pembrokeshire County Council application/The Urbanists.)

PCC consultants are working with the National Park and it is hoped that the application would soon be able to go to PCNPA’s development management planning committee for consideration.

While welcoming the update, town councillors said that they were concerned about the timetable of the development.

They agreed to write to PCC’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Delivery Cllr Jon Harvey requesting ‘rapid progress’ through the final stages to see the development completed before the end of the Council cycle (the 2027 election).

They also wished to remind Cllr. Harvey that the Town Council had been promised an input on the local lettings policy for the social housing within the development which they hoped would also be extended to include the re-letting of local council properties vacated by tenants moving to Brynhir.

Brynhir plans
An artist’s impression of the housing on the Brynhir site, Tenby (Pic: Pembrokeshire County Council application/The Urbanists.)

The controversial plans have received mixed views from those in the community, with some stating that the development will help alleviate the local housing crisis; whilst others believe that the scheme will destroy the seaside town’s last ‘green space’.

Back in 2018, PCC, which already owned the 15-acre Brynhir site, ‘bought’ the land for £4million, using its Housing Revenue Account.

In 2020, PCC was granted outline planning permission by PCNPA for the development of 144 properties – including up to 102 affordable residential units, eight shared ownership residential units and 34 open market shared units.

In July of last year, PCC’s Housing department asked the National Park to modify the Section 106 legal agreement ahead of an official updated application, relating to the number of affordable houses associated with the development.

Brynhir design
(PCC Housing Services)

The application was then backed by PCNPA's Development Management Committee. It included a condition that the percentage of affordable housing does not drop below 71%, with a similar clause for the shared ownership houses at 6%.

It is now expected that only 125 houses out of the previously proposed 144 will be built, with just under 90 being affordable.

Last September, the Local Authority stated that the planned housing development had reached an ‘important stage’ of the design process, with a drop-in community event held to showcase the latest plans to the public.

Brynhir plans
Drop-in community events hve been held to showcase the latest plans to the public. (PCC Housing Services)

Campaign group The Tenby Green Space Preservation Society has continued to voice concerns over the scheme, calling for the area to be protected for future generations, and most recently stating that the building of more large housing developments could see an increase in sea sewage spills generated by such estates.

The group has also flagged-up concerns over drainage; and access to the site via the A478 causing traffic delays on the main route into Tenby.