Members of the Tenby Green Space Preservation Society have once again written to local councillors, voicing their concerns over the Brynhir housing development - stating that once the land is built on, being the ‘last green space’ in the seaside town - it will be ‘lost forever’.

Pembrokeshire County Council was granted outline planning permission in 2020 for a development of 144 properties at the site in Tenby, with the local authority expecting to gain full planning permission soon, to enable them to start construction on the site in the coming months.

Before the summer, public engagement events took place at the De Valence in Tenby for members of the public to find out more about the planned Brynhir housing development.

PCC have stated that the proposed development is in response to an identified need for council housing in Tenby and reflects the demand for housing for local people seeking to move or return to the area.

Tenby town council have reaffirmed in recent months, that they are in favour of this development as long as it delivers the social housing Tenby desperately needs.

Tenby’s Mayor, and county councillor for the South ward, Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall has reiterated the importance of the planned housing development to the town, recently stating “We need these homes to be built.”

Those thoughts were echoed by her fellow Tenby Town Councillor Paul Rapi who said on the plans: “We’ve needed this in Tenby for many years.

“The fact that our locals will be able to have the opportunity to live in affordable and social housing is a big plus for the town.”

Town councillors have stated that a ‘Local Lettings Policy’ will ensure that those with a connection to Tenby and the surrounding area are prioritised for the new properties.

The planned development has not been without its controversies though, with campaign group the Tenby Green Space Preservation Society voicing concerns against the plans since they were announced, due to the area being one of the few green spaces left in the locality.

In correspondence that came before the town council at their meeting this month, the Society put forward further concerns, following the recent public engagement sessions.

“The proportion of 1 bedroom flats is too high - Tenby needs families to sustain our schools and community,” stated the group.

“There is no criteria for ‘local’ ascertained either; and we do not believe that by being local will have any advantage at all. To lose a greenfield site on a PCC promise is not enough.

“We have been led to believe that PCC has funding for the build, but no evidence. Again, no assurance that this will not be sold off with ‘full planning’ if passed.”

The group have also flagged-up concerns over drainage; and access to the site via the A478 causing traffic delays on the main route into Tenby.

“Whilst we know we have a nationwide housing crisis, we cannot ignore the fact that Brynhir was deemed unnecessary for the next 10 years under the current Local Development Plan,” continued the correspondence.

“We need to preserve this site for future generations, as once built on, it will be lost forever.”

Discussing the points made at the town council table, the Mayor of Tenby, Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall said that there was a ‘high demand’ for one bed flats in the town, with elderly residents wanting to move from three bed properties to one bed, which will free up three bed properties elsewhere in the town.a

Cllr Lynn Attewell, agreed commenting that many elderly people did not want, or need, to remain in larger properties but wanted to stay close to family within the community.

Councillors said that recent meetings with PCC had also indicated an increase in local demand for one bed properties since Covid.

The town clerk added that, although out-of-date, the TTC housing needs survey carried out back in 2008 had indicated that the two highest areas of need were one bed and three bed properties, and nothing had appeared to have changed.

Cllr. Laurence Blackhall said that the Town Council had only supported the development on the proviso that properties would be allocated based on local need.

“The allocation policy will be developed much closer to the time properties would be coming online, but the principle will be exactly the same as PCC’s ongoing Johnston project.

Cllr. Blackhall told his colleagues that he was also not sure that claims that this was the last ‘green space’ in the town were entirely accurate.

“The LDP identified the site in 1974 and it has continued to be in subsequent LDPs year on year ever since,” continued.

“At the last LDP review, a number of other sites including the Rectory car park which were part of the LDP were looked at from the point of view that, if not developed by certain a date, then they would have been taken out.

“Plans were not fully considered at that time and this is why the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority took it out of the LDP.

Cllr Duncan Whitehurst felt that concerns regarding drainage were valid and should be explored further, but Cllr. Blackhall said he felt that Welsh Water was not at that point in the development of plans, but agreed that any drainage issues needed to be looked at.