Fresh plans for a previously refused scheme to build a three-bed house on the site of a north Pembrokeshire pub car park have again been refused by the national park due to parking and safety concerns.

Applicants Julian and Alison Parkes sought permission from the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority to build the house on land near The Ship Aground public house situated in Dinas Cross, used as a car park for the pub, creating seven new parking spaces nearby to replace the site.

The application followed a 2024 scheme that was refused by the planning authority on the basis of insufficient information regarding highway safety, parking provision for The Ship Aground public house, and lack of affordable housing contribution.

A National Park planning officer report recommending refusal for the latest application said: “The proposed dwelling would be sited within a generous plot; the scale of the building is broadly comparable with surrounding dwellings, and separation distances to neighbouring properties are adequate. The proposal incorporates sufficient private amenity space for future occupants, and appropriate boundary treatments and landscaping could mitigate some impacts.

The report continued: “However, the development would result in the loss of existing informal parking for The Ship Aground public house, potentially leading to indiscriminate parking on or near the A487 trunk road. This could have a detrimental effect on the safety, convenience, and general amenity of both residents and visitors to the area.”

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority has refused plans to build a house on The Ship Aground pub's car park due to highway safety and parking concerns.
The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority has refused plans to build a house on The Ship Aground pub's car park due to highway safety and parking concerns. (Google street view)

It said The Welsh Government, as highway authority for the nearby A487 trunk road, has issued a direction not to grant planning permission due to insufficient information on access and parking, adding the applicant had not submitted a required Risk Assessment necessary given the site’s position adjacent to a 40mph section of the A487.

The report stated: “Without this assessment, the highway authority cannot determine whether the proposal would present an unacceptable risk to trunk road users,” it said, adding: “Additionally, no evidence has been provided to demonstrate how operational parking needs for the public house staff, residential elements, deliveries and commercial vehicles will be managed without causing injudicious parking or adverse impacts on the trunk road network.”

It also said, as the proposal introduces a new dwelling, a financial contribution towards off-site affordable housing is required under policy, but no draft unilateral undertaking has been submitted to secure this contribution.

The planning application was refused on those grounds.