Amendments to a trout fishery holiday chalet scheme, which was granted by Pembrokeshire councillors last year after being repeatedly recommended for refusal, have been given the go-ahead by county planners.

Last summer, Pembrokeshire councillors backed plans for holiday chalets at a trout fishery, despite them being recommended for refusal on multiple occasions.

Plans to provide nine accommodation cabins and ancillary works at a former fishery business at Millbrook, Manorwen, Fishguard, were backed at two meetings of Pembrokeshire County Council planning committee, despite them being recommended for refusal.

The application was backed for a second time at the committee’s May meeting, after a ‘minded to approve’ decision at the previous meeting.

The decision, a departure from the adopted Local Development Plan, meant the application would need to be referred to full council for a final decision.

Officers had repeatedly recommended Messrs L & C Williams’ application – diversification of an existing agricultural holding and trout fishery business – be refused on the grounds it would have an unacceptable adverse impact on the character and appearance of the countryside.

The application was then backed at the July 2023 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, despite a recommendation that the council did not endorse the resolution of the planning committee on the grounds it went against Development Plan policies which directed that planning permission should not be granted.

The applicants have now submitted amendments to the granted scheme, asking for revisions to the plans to include a lower carbon footprint through for both heating and hot water and the use of solar panels, along with larger decking areas and hot tubs to lodges.

The changes, recommended for approval at the October 8 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, also includes making thee lodges disability-friendly.

An officer report ahead of the meeting says: “The proposed amendments are essentially refinements to the approved scheme, enhancing accessibility, increasing the use of renewable energy; and improving the facilities offered by the scheme for visitors. Officers consider that environmental, social and economic benefits will accrue from the proposed revisions to the approved scheme.”

The recommendation for conditional approval was moved by Cllr Brian Hall, who said: “I’m more than happy to recommend this amendment.”

He was seconded by Cllr John Cole, who said: “It’s a rejigging which will make the site more accessible for people with disabilities.”

The application was unanimously approved.