Tenby Civic Society has expressed concern over a planning application for a closed iconic seafront hotel at the seaside town, in light of the future use of the building still being unclear.
Full and listed building applications (Ref: NP/24/0296/LBA & NP/24/0295/FUL) for the Fourcroft Hotel situated along The Croft, for replacement of the dormered mansard roof structure; windows and render to the front elevation of the premises, reinstating historic details have been submitted to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.
The application has put forward proposals for the reinstatement of a balcony; repair and replacement of front and garden railings; as well as retrospective plans for the demolition of the modern rear extensions.
The views of Tenby Civic Society’s executive committee have been submitted to PCNPA by member Harry Gardiner, who stated: “We still find the sequence of applications prior to the main future use application to be unsatisfactory.
“The renovation and protection of the building is welcome, though the scale of demolitions is concerning.
“A change of use appears to be in prospect but is not presented directly.
“There are some more contentious issues. The Civic Society’s executive committee see a poor trend in repeated cases where work is being done without any planning approval, or work is started before a decision is given.
“The work and retrospective application clearly prejudice the retention of hotel use by removing hotel facilities - some with no consent - such as the swimming pool, without any consent for change of use, or justification for abandoning hotel use.
“The committee feel an application for change of use etc should precede consideration of this application, so the potential loss of hotel accommodation can be properly considered.
“Protecting the fabric of the building is clearly important to all parties - that is confirmed, so the choice of hotel or change of use should be dealt with next,” he added.
Members of Tenby Town Council when discussing the application at their meeting this month, recommended approval, although they noted the comments of the Civic Society on whether the proposed windows are in keeping with the character of the surrounding buildings.
The Grade II-listed seafront hotel that overlooks the North Beach and Carmarthen Bay, has been closed since 2019, after it was one of several properties acquired by ‘entrepreneur’ Gavin Woodhouse that went into administration following a high court hearing.
New owners Mark Chaichian and his wife Jenny whose parents own the Park Hotel a little further up the road, set out a programme of works towards the end of 2022 to renovate the building and garden area but admitted at the time that they were unsure as to whether the premises would return as a hotel.
“We will be investing a lot of equity in the project and see it as an important landmark in Tenby that needs considerable investment to do the location and building justice,” stated Mark at the time.
The plans will be determined by PCNPA’s development management committee at a future date.