Plans for £2.3m disability-friendly holiday lodges at a deer park attraction on the outskirts of Tenby have been backed for a second time, but a final decision will have to be made by full council.

In an application recommended for refusal at the February 18 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Mr and Mrs Evans are seeking permission for 15 lodges at Great Wedlock, Gumfreston, the site of a 176-acre deer farm attraction, which includes animals from the late Queen’s estate, and a more recently-granted market traders’ barn.

The application had previously been recommended for refusal at the January meeting, but members went against officer recommendations with a ‘minded to’ approval, meaning the scheme returned to the February meeting after a ‘cooling off period’.

Reasons for refusal given to members included it was outside of an identified settlement boundary in a countryside location, and was considered to have an adverse impact on visual amenity.

The applicants have previously said build costs to complete the development would be circa £2.3m.

St Florence Community Council did not support a previous application, but has supported the latest amended scheme.

At the February meeting, officers repeated their concerns, also raising a recent court judgement against the council for a previously-granted holiday park scheme in Stepaside, which had been backed despite repeated calls by officers for its refusal, saying there was a possibility of a similar situation arising.

Applicant Andrew Evans thanked members for their previous support for the scheme, saying it would be “completely unique to Pembrokeshire,” providing a facility “for those less fortunate than ourselves,” adding: “Persons with disabilities can come and stay and be one of the majority, and not the minority.”

Applicant Andrew Evans told the meeting the proposals would support a whole raft of people with varying disabilities, Great Wedlock already taking a “head-on” approach supporting people with disabilities through special vehicles at the deer park, and encouraging people with disabilities to apply for staff vacancies.
Applicant Andrew Evans thanked members for their previous support for the scheme, saying it would be “completely unique to Pembrokeshire,” providing a facility “for those less fortunate than ourselves,” adding: “Persons with disabilities can come and stay and be one of the majority, and not the minority.” (PCC webcast)

He said issues on visual intrusion had been addressed by screening which had already cost some £2,000, saying: “The only way you’d see this development is from a helicopter.”

Mr Evans told members some £2.3m was being sunk into the scheme, estimating an annual £1.5m spend in the county when wages, visitor expenditure and other factors were taken into account.

He said, if full approval was given, the first builds could be up-and-running this year, with all finished by February 2026.

Tenby-born Mr Evans quoted a recently-submitted Network Rail scheme to the national park to improve disability access at the town’s railway station, adding: “We’re going for something that no-one else caters for; 24 per cent of people suffer a disability.”

Local member, Cllr Rhys Jordan called once again for the scheme to be supported, saying the recent judgement of the Heritage Park scheme was “a different set of circumstances,” with the likelihood of a judicial review on an application that had “not received one objection” and was supported by the local community council “slim to none”.

Councillor Alan Dennison, who moved approval, seconded by Cllr Jordan, said: “With respect to the recent court case, everyone supports this.”

Concerns were raised by councillors Brian Hall and Alistair Cameron, the former warning it could “open the door” for applications previously refused.

Members voted nine in favour to five against supporting the scheme.

This second approval against officer recommendations based on policy means the final decision on the scheme will have to be made by full council, the matter expected to be heard at the March meeting.

The applicants’ previous scheme for a trading barn took an identical route, being decided by full council after repeatedly being recommended for refusal.