Plans for a £2.3m disability-friendly holiday lodge development on the outskirts of Tenby have been given the final go-ahead despite repeated recommendations for refusal, and the spectre of a recent judicial review.

In an application twice backed despite repeated recommendations for refusal at both the February and March meetings of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Mr and Mrs Evans sought permission for 15 lodges at Great Wedlock, Gumfreston, the site of a 176-acre deer farm attraction, which includes animals from the late Queen’s estate, and a more recently-granted market traders’ barn.

The application returned to the February meeting after being backed with a ‘minded to’ support in January after a ‘cooling off period’.

At the February meeting, officers repeated their concerns, also raising a recent court judgement against the council for a previously-granted holiday park scheme in Stepaside.

That second approval against officer recommendations based on policy meant the final decision on the scheme will have to be made by full council, the matter appearing before the May 8 meeting.

The applicants’ previous scheme for a trading barn took an identical route, being decided by full council after repeatedly being recommended for refusal.

Reasons for refusal given to members included it was outside of an identified settlement boundary in a countryside location, and was considered to have an adverse impact on visual amenity.

St Florence Community Council did not support a previous application, but has supported the latest amended scheme.

At the May meeting of full council, officers again reiterated the judicial review concerns and the conflicts with policy before Cllr Simon Hancock, as then chair of the planning committee moved the scheme be approved, despite saying he would vote against it.

He was seconded by local member Cllr Rhys Jordan, who said the material considerations of “ethically right and economically sound” sustainable tourism and the disability-friendly lodges outweighed the planning considerations.

He said, on the cited recent court judgement, there was unlikely to be any challenge as there had been no objection from the local community council or any opposition groups.

However, Cllr Mike Stoddart told members: “We should be living in a rules-based society rather than the opinion of a planning committee on the day,” adding the dangers of precedent would lead to “nothing to stop having caravans in every field between here and Tenby.”

“We have a planning policy for a reason so people can have certainty,” he concluded.

Cllr Alec Cormack warned of the dangers of setting a precedent by going against officer recommendations: “When it comes to planning, we disagree with our own officers on an almost metronomic frequency. I don’t doubt the applicant but if planning permission is granted the site could be sold tomorrow.

“Conditions would equally apply to any new caravan application that simply possess disability-friendly caravans; the result would be we destroy Pembrokeshire’s unspoilt beauty. I urge members to support the officers’ recommendation to refuse this.”

The application was approved by 30 votes to 23, with one abstention.