An application to build a new dwelling on a busy one-way road in Saundersfoot has been approved despite the community council objecting to the proposals.

The application submitted by Mr. D. Slade, for the alteration to existing boundary walls and the creation of a new dwelling at Velfrey Cottage, located within the centre of seaside village along Church Terrace between High Street and Frances Lane, came before members of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s development management committee at their meeting on Wednesday.

The application had been deferred at the committee’s previous meeting to allow members to conduct a site visit.

The site is currently part of Velfrey Cottage’s garden area and has an elevated position above Church Terrace with the remains of a static caravan and overgrown vegetation covering most of the site.

Planning approval is sought for the sub-division of the garden of Velfrey Cottage to form a plot for a new two storey three bedroomed residential dwelling. The proposed works will alter the existing stone frontage boundary wall to create a new access and delivery bay. Above the wall a lean-to en-suite and external log store will be provided which will also extend the stone wall vertically.

Saundersfoot Community Council objected to the application as they consider the current proposal fails to harmonise with the landform and landscape character of the National Park.

Letters of objection have also been submitted to the authority by neighbouring properties who have raised concerns such as - traffic and pedestrian safety and disruption to traffic and emergency services; use of pavement by school children; the design is not in-keeping with surrounding buildings, with an excessive two-storey scale on an elevated position, overlooking and impacting on privacy to neighbours.

Speaking at Wednesday’s meeting, committee member Clr. Phil Baker, who is also county councillor for Saundersfoot and PCC’s cabinet member for planning and infrastructure, said that the site visit had been ‘very informative’.

“The community council is not against development on this site, but it is the size, shape and mass of the proposals that cause concern.

“It will have a huge impact on Saundersfoot on a one-way system that leads up to the school,” he said.

Clr. Baker also suggested that a local holiday park would struggle to get their caravans transported to their site should construction work temporarily narrow this route through the village.

“What’s currently proposed, although changed dramatically, is still too large for that site and disproportionate, so I would propose refusal in its current state,” added Clr. Baker, with his fellow committee member Clr. Phil Kidney agreeing, and suggesting that the applicants and officers come back with smaller plans.

However, committee members Alan Archer and Ted Sangster were both of the view that on balance the scheme should be approved after they attended the site visit.

When put to the vote, 12 members voted in favour of the officer’s recommendations to approve the application, with three voting against.