Amendments to an expansion of a south Pembrokeshire holiday park, previously approved despite an officer recommendation of refusal, have been given the go-ahead.

In an application recommended for approval at the November meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Lewis Davies sought permission for amendments for a previously-granted scheme to add 20 lodges at Florence Springs – part of the Heatherton World of Activities complex at St Florence – which included a managers/security dwelling with linked meet and greet office building; the creation of amenity lake, and associated works.

The overall scheme was approved by full council back in late 2021 after committee backing, having been recommended for refusal by officers.

A report for members at the November 2025 meeting said: “The application site includes a proposed manager’s dwelling.  At the time of the site visit, construction had commenced and the block work for the ground floor was largely complete.  Construction work, however, has stopped and there is no current building activity here.

“The proposal is to undertake minor variations to the approved design of the manager’s dwelling, namely raising the eaves and ridge height of the dwelling by 500mm, including an internal/covered balcony to the rear (north-west) elevation and undertaking minor alterations to the fenestration and cladding.”

At the meeting, the applicant said the “slight design changes” were them “just purely trying to make the most of the application previously approved,” a statement of support from local member Cllr Rhys Jordan later describing the applicants as “a well-known family who provide an excellent year-round tourism facility”.

Approval was moved by Cllr Brian Hall, saying: “You only have to pass that place to see how busy it is,” seconded by Cllr Chris Williams.

Approval was backed unanimously by committee members.

Report highlights jobs, training and community support across the country

AMAZON has revealed it has invested more than £2.4 billion in Wales since 2010, according to its latest UK Economic Impact Report published this week.

The figures, drawn from the updated Amazon Economic Impact Hub, show the company’s contribution to jobs, regional growth and community initiatives across Wales and the wider UK over the past fifteen years.

Economic contribution

The report estimates that Amazon’s investment has generated £1.8 billion in goods and services for the Welsh economy since 2010.
During that time, the company has created more than 2,000 full and part-time jobs across Wales and supported hundreds of residents through skills development and apprenticeship programmes.

More than 430 people in Wales have completed Amazon’s career development and training initiatives, and over 90 apprentices have graduated through the company’s apprenticeship programme.

Community engagement

David Marcok of Amazon Swansea said: “Amazon is committed to strengthening the regional economy and supporting the broader Welsh community through strategic investments, employment creation, charitable contributions and community engagement initiatives.

“In 2025 so far, our team has worked closely with organisations such as Save the Children and Wales Air Ambulance through volunteering, product donations and direct financial assistance. We look forward to expanding these efforts further in the months ahead.”

Major UK expansion

Nationally, Amazon recently announced plans to invest £40 billion in the UK between 2025 and 2027. The investment includes the construction of four new fulfilment centres and several delivery stations, as well as upgrades to its existing network of over 100 facilities.

The move will create thousands of new permanent jobs, with most positions based outside London and the South East. These include 2,000 new roles at a state-of-the-art fulfilment centre in Hull and another 2,000 in Northampton.

As one of the UK’s top ten private sector employers, Amazon currently employs more than 75,000 people nationwide, with full-time salaries starting at £28,000 per year (£30,000 in London). The new sites will offer over 60 different job types, including roles for robotics technicians, safety specialists and mechatronic engineers.

DEMOLITION works for a multi-million-pound scheme to redevelop a derelict Pembrokeshire motel, described as “one of the last true blots on our county’s landscape” have started.

In an application approved by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s May development management committee, Nick Neumann of Newgale Holidays was granted permission to redevelop the former Roch Gate Motel to a mixed commercial and community use hub called ‘The Gate,’ including a village shop/post office, bistro/restaurant, and a tourism development of 18 holiday lodges.

The vacant derelict former motel – dubbed an “eyesore” in previous applications – closed back in 2008 and has a history of later approved planning schemes, including as a bespoke hotel and an affordable housing scheme, but none came to fruition.

Speaking at the May meeting, applicant Nick Neumann, who has become a county councillor since the scheme was first mooted, said: “The former Rochgate Motel located at the gateway to the St Davids Peninsula on the A487 is somewhat famous for the wrong reasons as it remains one of the last true blots on our county’s landscape. Namely the ‘pink palace’ has remained dormant for nearly 20 years slowly deteriorating in condition whilst various proposals have come forward and never materialised.

“The site, originally a former World War 2 radar station which became a commercial premises including motel, restaurant, spa and events facility in the early 1960s, was a much-loved popular venue for nearly 50 years before closing its doors in 2008.

“Today we still receive comments from people who loved the motel back in the day.”

He added: “The proposal will bring a significant multi-million-pound investment into the community, create 18 FTE jobs, restore lost community provisions, and will see the revitalisation of the brownfield site with a new exciting provision to our growing community of Roch.”

Other speakers at the meeting raised their support for the proposals, with former community council chair, and chair of the Nolton and Roch community Land Trust, David Smith saying the scheme would “significantly enhance the convenience and wellbeing of local residents,” as well as creating jobs and would “replace a decaying eyesore that is a blight on the community”.

Current community council chair Michael Harries said the community has been “tarnished by a pink monstrosity eyesore” since the motel closed in 2008.

Speaking as the demolition got underway, Cllr Neumann said: “I’m just happy that we can finally make a start on the project and bring the vision for ‘The Gate’ to life. It’s been nearly three years since we bought the site so it’s great to be finally making a start. Thank you to everyone who has supported us thus far.”