An application for a conversion and to make alterations at a seafront premises in Amroth has been approved, despite the property being placed in a high risk flood zone.

The plans submitted by Mr. E. Davies propose the conversion of an existing first floor flat to three self-contained units and alterations to the ground floor cafe to provide undercover stairwell to flats above the Pirate Cafe.

The application was initially considered by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee back in January, when members were minded to approve it, contrary to national and local policy.

As a result, a ‘cooling-off’ period was subsequently invoked by the director of park direction and planning, with the application coming back before members at their meeting last week.

In her report to the committee, planning case officer, Nicola Gandy, said that the key issue to be considered in this case was the principle of the additional two residential units, on a highly vulnerable land use, within an identified C2 flood zone.

“The recommendation of refusal, as set out in the previous committee report, still stands. The additional information in relation to additional residential units in flood zones confirms the national and local policy position and adds further weight to the recommendation,” she added.

Amroth Community Council had offered no objection to the application.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s assistant engineer, Emyr Williams, and coastal rivers expert told the meeting that an awful lot of existing buildings in flood risk areas would be in danger in the future in the light of climate change.

Committee member, Clr. Phil Kidney, asked Mr. Williams if the occupants of the property would be at greater risk if this development was given the go-ahead than they were now.

“Probably not, but the risk is there,” responded Mr. Williams.

Director of park direction and planning, Jane Gibson, said that the authority was not trying to prevent investment in the Amroth area and pointed to another recent development on the village’s seafront, but explained that they were being cautious as the application they were determining was in a C2 flood zone.

The committee’s vice-chairman, Clr. Michael Williams, said that he was a little bit concerned going against expert advice, as he didn’t want the committee to be deemed as being ‘reckless’ if they approved the application.

Clr. Mike Evans said that, as part of the application was for café use, if the business was to collapse, then they would be left with an empty building, as the Park’s policy wouldn’t allow a change of use to residential.

“The risk is all with the applicant, so it doesn’t make sense to refuse these plans. If it was a total new build, then we would have a different opinion,” he commented.

His fellow member, Mr. Ted Sangster, agreed, and said that the risk was to the property and not the people.

“The Park’s policy allows a business property to be put at risk, but not housing, therefore if the applicant is prepared to take the risk, then I’d formally propose to support their application,” he said, with Clr. Tony Wilcox agreeing.

“The building has been there for many years, and if we turned this down, the average person in the street would think that we were bonkers!” he remarked.

When put to the vote nine members voted in favour of approval and seven against, with the application to be passed with conditions attached.