Plans for outdoor sauna at Tenby's North Beach rejected

Plans for an outdoor sauna by Tenby’s North Beach have been refused Pembrokeshire’s National Park.

In an application to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, Tenby-based David Jones, sought permission for the siting of a mobile sauna unit on a raised concrete hard-standing area above the breakwater wall and slipway at the far north end corner of North Beach.

The scheme, if approved, would be situated below the Park Hotel, North Cliff, the site in private ownership as part of the Park Hotel estate.

A supporting statement accompanying the application said the site has most recently been used as the base for a paddleboard tour and rental business, and has also been utilised to store watercraft and recreational beach equipment.

Of the scheme itself, it said: “We aim to provide a close to nature sauna experience and in so doing make sauna culture’s physical, mental, and social health benefits accessible to the local community and its visiting guests.

“We aim to operate a year-round service that offers an immersive and nuanced experience that only nature and the changing seasons can provide. We aim to provide a sauna service set within a natural setting with direct access for sea bathing as an integral part of the sauna experience. We aim to provide an experience with a low environmental impact and high physical, mental and social gains.”

An officer report recommending refusal said: “It is considered by officers that the proposal would negatively impact the Tenby Conservation Area by proposing a commercial element in a quiet and secluded part of Tenby North Beach.

“The contrast between both ends of North beach is notable, and whilst the proposed use may be regarded as acceptable in principle; the location is not considered acceptable.”

It added: “As previously mentioned, the proposed site is currently recognised as a quiet and secluded area of Tenby, which lacks the presence of commercial enterprises.

“The proposed sauna and associated buildings are considered to detract from these elements and would, in turn, negatively alter the character of the Tenby Conservation Area and the immediate site.”

Recently, a previous temporary grant of an outdoor sauna at Saundersfoot’s harbour was refused a permanent location by Park planners.

Back in June 2024, a temporary two-year permission for a mobile wood-fired sauna at overlooking the sea at Saundersfoot harbour was granted by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee.

Since then, a further application by Kerry Evans of Hwyl Outdoor Sauna to make the siting permanent was submitted to national park planners, which was refused following an officer recommendation at the July committee meeting.

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While planners expressed their regret at the refusal of that scheme, one of the issues based on location, they hoped a compromise may be reached with another location in the harbour area.