A call to allow a seaside village garage used as a home without permission to continue doing so has been turned down.

In an application to The Pembrokeshire coast National Park Authority, Anthony Parfitt sought permission for a certificate of lawfulness for a former garage now domestic building at Oaklands, Portclew Road, Freshwater East, having purchased it back in 2016.

An application for a certificate of lawfulness allows an applicant to stay at a development or keep it if they can provide proof of occupancy over a prolonged period.

A supporting statement said: “The previous owner of the site lodged a planning application for a new house on the site in May 2013. With anticipation of approval of this application, and prior to placing the application, they made alterations to the existing garage, changing its use to domestic dwelling as they intended to live in the garage whilst the new house was built.

“The application was refused in July of 2013 and then again in 2014 (amended design), however the ‘garage’s now domestic status was not abandoned, and shows evidence of its ‘continuous use’ as a domestic unit, continuing right up to present day.

“This dwelling, known as Oaklands, has and has had all the facilities for day to day living ever since it was initially refurbished/changed use in 2013 by its previous owner, and at the point of first inspection by myself in May 2016, and still continues in its domestic use to this current day.”

In support of his application, Mr Parfitt provided documentation from previous residents confirming its “continuous use” without abandonment to any other use.

An officer report recommending refusal said there were “inconsistencies in the historical use of the garage” to discharge a 2012 planning condition for the site to be used for garage purposes only.

It said: “The planning enforcement team visited the property in September 2025 and the present use of the garage for residential use and its layout was confirmed. The applicant has confirmed that tenancies were gained by word of mouth and it does not appear that active steps were taken to advertise or market the garage for occupation via advertisement, listing with estate agents etc in between lets.”

It added: “Enquiries have been made with Pembrokeshire County Council, and it does not appear that council tax has been paid in respect of the occupation of the garage at any time.”

It said the timeline of evidence from different tenants included one related to the applicant, applicants who used the space for model making, as a woodworking and carpentry workshop, and the production of cigar box guitars, with one of the tenants using it as a residential basis before moving away, using the space as a workshop on his return.

In refusing the certificate of lawfulness it said there was “an overall lack of consistent evidence to demonstrate continuous occupation as a dwellinghouse,” in breach of the 2012 condition.

“It is not doubted that there have been periods of residential occupation, but it does seem likely that these have been sporadic and interspersed with periods of alternative use (potentially within the terms of the condition) as well as periods of non-use.”