A modification to two Section 106 legal agreements for affordable housing at a farm near Haverfordwest have been passed by members of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s planning committee.

The request for a modification to the Section 106 legal agreements (Ref: NP/23/0492/MOD) in relation to schedule 2 (affordable housing) pertaining to Section 106 Agreement (NP10/511), on land adjacent to Blockett Farm, Blockett Lane, Little Haven, were put before members of PCNPA’s development management committee at their September 3 meeting.

The application proposed the modification of Section 106 legal agreements relating to a housing site at Blockett Lane, Little Haven for six dwellings (application reference NP/10/511). The existing legal agreement requires the delivery of 50% affordable housing, equating to three affordable units to be transferred to a Registered Social Landlord (RSL).

The original application was made in 2010 under the adopted Local Development Plan 1 which had a policy requirement for 50% affordable housing. Since this date, the Local Development Plan 2 has been prepared with updated viability evidence.

The adopted LDP2 (adopted September 2020) has a policy requirement for 20% of new dwellings to be made affordable in the St Brides Bay Housing Submarket Area (Policy 48 ‘Affordable Housing’).

The original application has been varied by two subsequent Section 73 applications, varying matters of visibility splays and access and removing conditions relating to Sustainable Code for Homes which were subsequently absorbed by Building Regulations.

A Financial Viability Assessment was undertaken by the District Valuer on behalf of the applicant in October 2019 which concluded no affordable housing could be supported by the development, however no formal application had been made to the Authority and due to staffing issues and Covid, progress with considering the request for a modification was delayed.

Following discussions with the applicant in 2023 the Authority commissioned Nigel Sinnett Consulting Ltd (NSCL) to consider matters further.

The assessment by NSCL concluded that the provision of one affordable rented unit (88m² GIA end terrace) is viable and can be supported by the scheme. This application therefore sought to modify the terms of a Section 106 legal agreement in relation to affordable housing on the site.

Members of the committee agreed for the application to be delegated to the Chief Executive, the Director of Place and Engagement or the Development Management Manager to issue a modified Section 106 Legal Agreement.