Plans for a small ‘Japanese courtyard’ style home in Tenby have been given the go-ahead by the National Park, despite objections raised by members of the Town Council.

In an application recommended for conditional approval at the January meeting of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s development management committee, Mr J Beynon sought permission for a one-bedroomed property with provision for home working on a plot adjacent to Delfryn, Serpentine Road.

The scheme went before the committee rather than being delegated to officers as Tenby Town Council had objected to the proposal on the grounds of over-development and the site being very constrained.

An officer report said: “The application site consists of an empty plot on Serpentine Road, within Tenby’s Centre boundary. It is flanked by two, two storey dwellings, one of which is detached. The site is currently overgrown, and there is a garage towards the eastern portion of the plot, although this currently has no roof.”

The scheme includes the need for an affordable housing contribution of £17,500; members hearing final confirmation of which was awaited, with a request for delegated approval by officers on its completion.

The report added: “The design of the dwelling has been carefully chosen to minimise overlooking and provide adequate levels of privacy to the new occupants. A single storey dwelling has been proposed with one bedroom at the western end of the site and a single storey courtyard linked office at the eastern end of the site.

“The design and access statement refers to the type of design being common in Japan and how such a design will enable privacy for both neighbouring properties and for the occupants of the dwelling.”

It went on to say: “The design offers a contemporary approach to a small infill site which will not have a significant impact on the street scene due to its limited height and being set back behind the frontages of both adjacent dwellings.”

An issue complicating the application was a lack of foul water drainage capacity in the area’s sewage network.

It said statutory consultee, Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water “[has] confirmed that there is insufficient capacity in terms of flow passed forward (wet weather capacity) and that this capacity will not be provided until December [31] 2029, and that as such, a condition restricting occupation until the necessary upgrades have been delivered to Tenby and Saundersfoot’s capacity should be imposed to ensure environmental protection”.

Officers recommended delegated approval with such a ‘Grampian Condition,’ along with signing of the affordable housing contribution, be included in any permission.

Cllr Di Clements, who moved the officer recommendation of approval, described the scheme as “a really, really neat way of putting a one-bed property into a very small plot, a really good use of space.”

Members unanimously backed the recommendation of approval delegated to officers.