An outdoor education base in Carmarthenshire is due to close next year and be replaced by affordable housing.

Numerous young people have had a taste of adventure at Pendine Outdoor Education Centre over the years but the Carmarthenshire Council-run facility is said to be past its best.

This, coupled with significant demand for housing, persuaded council leaders to look at different options.

Cllr Hazel Evans, cabinet member for regeneration, leisure, culture and tourism, said: “The unprecedented demand for affordable housing has increased rapidly over recent years in Carmarthenshire and across the country.

“The scheduled closure of the outdoor education centre in October 2025, due to the facilities reaching the end of their life, presents us with an opportunity to develop 25 affordable housing units at the site that could be provided for general and specialist use.”

She said the council was still committed to outdoor education experiences for young people, and that the value of the Pendine centre would be determined independently with the sum then invested in Pembrey Country Park.

“The enhanced facilities will include camping and glamping pods that will be available for educational use during school term-time and for the public during the holidays,” she said. “This investment at Pembrey Country Park will maximise usage, income and the future sustainability of the park.”

Pendine Outdoor Education Centre consists of single-storey buildings, grassy areas and a car park and is around 300 metres from Pendine’s famous beach.

Youngsters from across Wales have stayed there including Scouts and Guides and people doing Duke of Edinburgh’s Award activities as well as school groups.

Its scheduled closure next autumn has surprised some people in the village.

One local woman said a lot of retired people who used to visit Pendine were ending up living there, putting pressure on housing. She said the affordable housing proposal could help people, as long as the properties proposed at the outdoor centre site were genuinely affordable.

Carmarthenshire Council has completed a new beach-side hostel, restaurant, museum and playground as part of a £7.6m investment in Pendine in the last 18 months.