Community councillors in Saundersfoot have given their views on a pre-application planning proposal that proposes 54 new properties being built on land in the seaside village.

Evans Banks Planning has been instructed by Morgan Construction (Wales) Limited and Barcud Housing Association to seek full planning permission from Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority to construct 54 dwelling houses and apartments, along with an access state road and associated infrastructure, over land that forms part of a large agricultural field enclosure, north of Whitlow (SA69 9AE).

The application site lies immediately off the western flank of the B4316 road at the northern extremity of the settlement of Saundersfoot, with the site sharing a long southern perimeter with the rear garden boundaries of residential properties fronting the Whitlow housing estate.

The proposals, which the applicants state, have undergone considerable pre-application negotiations and discussions with National Park Authority officers, will see a mix of bungalows and two-storey dwelling houses, being detached and semi-detached in scale, all equipped with off-road car parking in the form of side or front driveways, and traditional rear garden space. Two-storey apartment blocks are proposed to accommodate one and two bed flat types.

A total of 27 apartments have therefore been introduced in the development to ensure that the remaining 27 dwelling houses are all afforded sufficient amenity and parking space.

The applicants have stated that the scheme seeks to ensure a satisfactory level of privacy and lack of overbearance on neighbouring residents and those new occupants within the scheme; with the development to be a mix of open market and affordable housing for an identified housing need in the settlement and surrounding environs.

When discussing the pre-application at this month’s meeting of Saundersfoot Community Council, following consideration of all the information available, members made the following observations towards the consultation and to request that there are taken into consideration by the developers:

The entrance to the proposed site is near the proposed commencement area of the Welsh Government imposed 20mph speed limit, with councillors feeling that this could cause a ‘major hazard and confusion’ for road users, with councillors asking if there was any possibility for consideration to be given to this being moved.

With the proposed site been known, historically, to flood, councillors made a request for the results of any flood surveys carried out by the developers to be made available to the Community Council.

As this is one of three large developments that are currently being considered for planning approval in the Wards of Saundersfoot North and South councillors also asked if the applicants are able to provide confirmation that the current infrastructure and village amenities are able to accommodate such a development?

Find out about planning applications that affect you by visiting the Public Notice Portal.

Councillors asked for confirmation that a construction traffic management plan will be submitted with the full planning application; and also requested that they be provided with further information relating to the affordable housing element of the application.