An appeal to overturn a previously-refused scheme to expand a Pembrokeshire caravan park using high quality agricultural land currently used as a golf course has been dismissed.

Last January, in an application refused by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park planners, Bryn and Phil Rees sought permission for the change of use for 10 additional mobile lodges/caravans at Tretio Caravan & Camping Park, at the hamlet of Tretio, near St Davids.

The main holiday complex currently contains 30 static holiday caravans and pitches for 10 motorhomes as well as 46 tent pitches.

The application, heard at the January 31 development management committee, was recommended for refusal following a site visit by planners earlier that month.

One of the complications for the applicants was the land was deemed to be “Best and Most Versatile land,” despite being used as a golf course for decades, officers also saying the scheme was likely to have a negative impact on the special qualities of the National Park.

A number of neighbour objections had been received to the proposal, including a joint response on behalf of a number of residents, raising a variety of issues including impact on the surrounding area, and a historic permission requiring its reversion to agricultural use should the current use of the area cease.

Reasons for refusal included the proposed extension was not considered to be well screened, the additional pitches and track would result in a visual intrusion into the landscape, and increase in car usage, and the change of the Best and Most Versatile (BMV) Agricultural Land to a caravan and camping site.

Applicant Bill Rees, speaking at the meeting, said he was disappointed at the recommendation for refusal, and didn’t consider the visual impact a valid objection.

On the issue of ‘best’ agricultural land he said: “This has been a golf course for over 30 years; practically, on a block of land that small, it would cost a lot of money get back into agriculture.”

Members voted eight in favour and five against following the officer recommendation for refusal.

Planning Policy Wales (PPW) requires that BMV agricultural land should be conserved as a finite resource for the future with considerable weight given to protecting it from development.

Since that refusal, an appeal was made to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), which was dismissed by Inspector Zoe Baxter following a site visit.

In terms of visual intrusion, Insp Baxter said that, while the site was used as a pitch and putt golf course, “it retains an open nature and is assimilated into the landscape,” adding: “The caravan park and the proposed extension would appear larger than the village of Tretio which would fail to preserve the rural character and appearance of the area.”

The report also said the use as a golf course did not preclude it returning to agricultural use, but “the proposed development would result in operational development which would likely render it unsuitable for return to agricultural use.”