Concerns have been raised by councillors in Saundersfoot, regarding proposals to redevelop land to the rear of the former Cambrian Hotel, with members citing ‘overdevelopment’ as one of the main reasons why the plans should be rejected.

Plans submitted to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority to redevelop land to the rear of the former Cambrian Hotel on Milford Street, would see the construction of a new mixed-use residential and flexible commercial development to comprise - apartments and townhouses, amenity space, drainage infrastructure, landscaping, car parking spaces and access improvements.

Applicants Ventura Properties have previously stated that the proposals for a new housing and a flexible commercial unit on the site would present an opportunity for ‘transformative regeneration in the heart of Saundersfoot’ that will compliment ongoing wider investment and help ‘underpin the vitality and viability’ of the seaside village in the long-term.

The development site would provide 24 new homes comprising of a mix of one, two, three and four bedroom town houses and apartment types, as well as 445 sqm of commercial unit space on the ground floor providing frontage on to Milford Street.

At February’s meeting of Saundersfoot Community Council, members elected not to support the application, stating in their recommendations to PCNPA: “If this application were to be approved, the Community Council is concerned that it would set a precedence for future overdevelopment, which does not preserve nor enhance the character or appearance of a historic village within a conservation area.

Councillors raised the following points in recommending refusal for the application:

• The proposed plans do not preserve nor enhance the character or appearance of the conservation area in which the development is proposed, potentially causing an imbalance of the aesthetics of the village.

• The proposed plans would cause major overdevelopment of the plot, potentially being dominant, overbearing and intrusive to the heart of a conservation area and for the residents living within that area.

• The proposed development would be accessed from an already problematic stretch of single lane road with taxi bays, a bus stop and one-way traffic system all adding to the negative impact of safety. The logistics of the building process would cause major problems to all road users.

• Major concerns have been raised by the Community Council in the past, and continue to be ongoing, relating to vehicles speeding on the access roads to the village. Additional vehicles accessing the proposed development would add considerable to this on going safety problem.

• Even more commercial buildings being offered in a village where new business properties are empty or applications for the change of use are being made to this Planning Authority.

It was proposed and seconded that considering all the points raised, Saundersfoot Community Council does not support this planning application and requests that the Planning Authority consider refusal of such. Councillors voted unanimously in favour of objecting to the plans.

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

Saundersfoot scheme
How the scheme might look (Ventura Properties)