Pembrokeshire County Council and the proposed developers of the Old School, Narberth, have mutually agreed not to proceed with the scheme for which planning consent has been granted to develop the site.

Developers Abbeymore Estates/Knox and Wells Ltd. had touted a mixed retail and residential scheme for the old school site, but the County Council had an agreement that support for the scheme would be withdrawn if the developers failed to secure the tenants and commence the scheme by December 31 of this year.

Local Member, County Councillor Wynne Evans, told the Observer today that he attended a ‘briefing’ on the old school site, and said that he hoped that the County Council considers the social housing element part of the scheme which has always been his priority.

“I now understand it is likely that the buildings will be demolished in early spring to create extra parking, until a new scheme, possibly with a non retail element, is discussed by the council’s asset strategy group, with a scheme that would include extra public car parking spaces and some residential.

“We must make certain there is affordable provision for the young families of Narberth,” he added.

While the developers have established demand with a new tenant line-up, a spokesperson for Pembrokeshire County Council said that the Authority did not feel that the proposal ‘builds on the viability and vitality of the town centre or builds on the existing strengths of the town’s retail offer, as required in the original development brief’.

“The proposals could be further varied in line with the Council’s and developer’s current discussions but cannot be implemented under the current Procurement Rules,” explained the spokesperson.

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“Pembrokeshire County Council will now assess the future use of the site before deciding whether to, or how to, remarket the opportunity,” they added.