With the detailed planning matters application for the Brynhir housing development in Tenby unanimously approved by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority this week - Pembrokeshire County Council has revealed a new artist’s impression on how the scheme will look.

Tender submission bids for the site’s development were received over the summer and are currently being evaluated, with a Pre-Construction Service agreement anticipated to be awarded in the autumn.

The approved plans include 125 new homes.

The successful contractor will then be required to carry out final works on design, market testing, seek Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) Approval Body approval along with other matters before a construction contract is entered with the plan to commence on site late Spring 2025.

Cabinet Member for Housing Cllr Michelle Bateman: “Given the high level of demand for social housing across Pembrokeshire, and in particular the Tenby area, this is an important scheme in our development programme.

“The site will deliver high quality homes for the local area, made up of 93 homes that will be retained by the Council. The remaining will be a mix of open market and shared ownership.

“A local lettings policy will be in place for allocations of the council owned properties with priority given to those with a connection to Tenby and the surrounding villages.

“I am pleased that the National Park planning committee unanimously supported the application.”

Tenby’s county councillor for the south ward, Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall, who sits on PCNPA’s development management committee told the Observer on the day that the plans were passed (September 4) that it was ‘good news’ for the seaside town.

“This will lead to 93 Council housing properties being built. These will be let on a local letting policy - they will be local houses for local people. They can't be sold, they will always be Council housing,” she remarked.

“Building will start next year with 125 properties in total - 93 Council Housing, 16 shared ownership and 16 open market sale.”

There will be a buffer zone around the site which will include a landscaped circular walk around the boundary of the site. Extensive consultations have shaped the final scheme. Some conditions were attached to the approval to ensure that any concerns raised will be addressed during the building stage.

“I believe that this is a hugely important decision for Tenby,” continued Cllr Skyrme-Blackhall.

“We need housing for local people and I am delighted that 93 properties will be Council housing. This is good news for our schools and good news for Tenby.

“Properties will be let on a strict local letting policy, which means Tenby and the immediate surrounding area only.

“I would like to congratulate the teams from Pembrokeshire County Council on getting to this stage but I also say loudly and clearly, that the real hard work starts now and we have to do all that we can to ensure that these properties are built as soon as possible.

“We have a housing crisis now and need this properties built and let to local people.

“I know that not everyone will be happy. There are people who opposed the scheme for quite legitimate reasons but in the end, for me the balance of the argument was in favour of the scheme and the housing it will provide,” she added.

However, with a number of concerns surrounding some aspects of the scheme, with some relating to sewage capacity due to the scale of the development; and local campaigners, bemoaning Tenby’s ‘last green space’ being lost, county councillor for the north ward, Cllr Michael Williams has once again echoed those concerns.

“I do welcome the provision of 93 new council houses being specifically provided for our local population. However, I do still have concerns specifically relating to the drainage of foul water which is to be via the existing system which runs south from Brynhir,” he told the Observer.

“The initial proposal was to run foul water in a North Westerly direction with a new pipeline and despite reassurances from Dŵr Cymru, I still have major concerns about the capacity of the existing system to deal with such a large development.

“There are also in my opinion unaddressed concerns regarding storm water run off and inadequate landscaping on the southern boundary.

“The role of any elected member is to question decisions that could possibly adversely impact their constituents, and, on this development, I have been alone in this endeavour.

“I have to admit to being somewhat disappointed that several concerns that I have raised ever since the original application have not been adequately addressed by the planning authority, but I have to accept that my ability to influence that body is very limited,” continued Cllr Williams.

“The complete inadequacy of meaningful questioning by PCNPA members was quite stark and very disappointing. They sometimes appeared to lose sight of one of their principle purposes which is to protect the open countryside and its environment.

“At the very least the Sandford principle should have been applied, together with an examination of possible suggestions of pre determination. The principle of providing public housing is of paramount importance, but in doing so, there should be a recognition of the importance of our special environment in an area of outstanding beauty,” he added.

Tenby Civic Society also raised concerns over - highway safety issues, lack of sustainable transport facilities, landscaping and skyline development, surface water discharge, low water pressure, retention of stone styles within the scheme, footpath routes and impact on existing amenity space to south of the site, in its submission to PCNPA; whilst 20 objections to the scheme were also received, raising concerns including - loss of green space, traffic issues, privacy, design, visual impacts and the scale of the development, sewage capacity, potential antisocial behaviour within the play area, and a limitation on second homes/holiday lets being required.