A FORMAL application on plans to build 35 affordable homes on the fire-ravaged site of the former Cleddau Bridge Hotel, Pembroke Dock has been submitted to Pembrokeshire County Council.

A pre-application consultation on the plans was held in September and October ahead of the formal submission.

In a prime location at one of the entrances to Pembroke Dock the former Cleddau Bridge Hotel has been derelict since a fire in March 2019, which brought emergency services from as far afield as Ammanford, Aberystwyth and Swansea.

A previous planning application for the demolition of the hotel and siting of a residential care home and linked bungalows was submitted in October 2022 and which was subsequently granted permission in February 2023.

This permission, whilst in outline, is still live and allows for the loss of the hotel use of the site and its alternative redevelopment as a residential care home.

The site has now been purchased by Castell Group Property Specialists who specialise in delivering affordable housing in South Wales and have undertaken a joint development deal with Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) and that deal was agreed back in April 2024.

Castell Group Property Specialists, through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, now wants to demolish what is left of the hotel, with a development of affordable housing units, with landscaping and ecological enhancements, the housing being 100 per cent affordable, a mix of social rent and affordable housing.

Initial discussions with the council were for 38 affordable units, which has been lowered to 35 in a mix of 16 one-bed units, 11 two-bed units, six three-bed units and two four- bed units.

The applicants say: “The application offers an opportunity to find a solution to the redevelopment of the site, which has now been vacant and derelict now for some five years, and to make a significant contribution towards meeting the affordable housing needs of the area. The proposal is unique in that the scheme would be in the form of 100 per cent affordable housing.”

The application will be considered by county planners at a later date.

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service has previously said the 2019 fire was started by a deliberate act.

Following a fire investigation, Dyfed-Powys Police said they found there to be insufficient evidence to identify a suspect.

A GROUP of Welsh whisky producers have come together to launch a new campaign which encourages restaurants in Wales to feature more GI (Geographical Indication) protected products. 

The five Single Malt Welsh Whisky PGI producers – Penderyn, Aber Falls, Dà Mhìle, In the Welsh Wind and Coles collectively hold UK GI status, which recognises them nationally and internationally as producing a quality product with a distinctive style.

The new campaign is backed by Welsh Government research which highlights that nine out of ten hospitality guests believe it important for venues to have a good range of dishes with Welsh ingredients. Four out of ten would be prepared to pay more for dishes with Welsh ingredients and 25 percent of respondents would be discouraged from visiting venues with no Welsh food offer.

There are currently 20 GI products in Wales, and the GI Single Malt Welsh Whisky group is urging more chefs and hospitality venues to use and promote these examples of authentically Welsh produce on their menus.

The campaign has been launched with the help of three Welsh chefs who have partnered with the group to create a package of recipes which showcase ideas for using GI produce to others in the hospitality and tourism sector.

Chefs Osian Jones of Crwst and Chris Walker of Yr Hen Printworks, both based in Cardigan and Douglas Balish from the Grove of Narberth have created recipes, demonstration videos and food & drink pairing recommendations for the campaign.

Recipes include Welsh Beef PGI short rib with a Single Malt Welsh Whisky PGI pepper sauce and celeriac and a Single Malt Welsh Whisky PGI Crème Brûlée. The chefs have recommended food pairings for Welsh Single Malt Whisky PGI including a Traditional Welsh Caerphilly Cheese PGI souffle with Welsh Leeks PGI paired with Dà Mhìle Single Malt Whisky PGI.

Stephen Davies, chief executive of Penderyn Distillery said: “As we recently marked one year since Single Malt Welsh Whisky gained UK GI status, we all appreciate the international recognition and value of the GI brand as a mark of quality, authenticity and provenance. Coupled with the clear evidence that visitors and hospitality guests are actively seeking out Welsh produce on menus, there’s a win-win opportunity here for our great Welsh restaurants and producers,” he said.

Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, Huw Irranca-Davies MS, told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “The GI process is a fantastic way for our high quality producers in Wales to tell their stories and showcase the expertise, sustainability and tradition that goes into these products. Welsh Government is actively encouraging and supporting more producers to apply for GI status as we build our national and international reputation as a distinct food and drink nation. We are delighted to support this new campaign and look forward to seeing more Welsh GI products on menus throughout the country”.

Ellen Wakelam, co-owner of In the Welsh Wind added: “Being part of the Single Malt Welsh Whisky PGI family has given the Welsh whisky producing distilleries the chance to collaborate at a deeper level, and has strengthened our individual and collective voices on the UK and International playing fields.

“This is a great opportunity to collaborate with established Welsh hospitality brands and bring the Welsh whisky story to a wider audience. We’ve all had a great experience working together as chefs and producers to create this campaign and we’d urge chefs and producers all over Wales to develop similar relationships to build a truly unique and distinctly Welsh menu offer,” she said.

The campaign is being promoted through Welsh Government’s Food & Drink Wales and Visit Wales networks. Hospitality venues can download recipes and information about Welsh GI producers, and watch the chefs’ recipe videos here.

The PGI Welsh chefs’ recipe collection is:

Douglas Balish, The Grove of Narberth:

Atlantic Edge Pembrokeshire Rock Oyster with Carmarthen Ham PGI and Single Malt Welsh Whisky PGI

Pairing: Aber Falls Single Malt Welsh Whisky PGI

Single Malt Welsh Whisky PGI chocolate tart with smoked Halen Môn salt PDO

Pairing: Penderyn rich oak Single Malt Welsh Whisky PGI 

Traditional Welsh Caerphilly cheese PGI souffle with Welsh Leeks PGI and Single Malt Welsh Whisky PGI

Pairing: Dà Mhìle Single Malt Welsh Whisky PGI

Osian Jones, Crwst, Cardigan:

Single Malt Welsh Whisky PGI Crème Brûlée

Chris Walker, Yr Hen Printworks, Cardigan:

Chocolate cremeux, malt ice cream and a Single Malt Welsh Whisky PGI & cherry caramel

PGI Welsh Beef short rib with a Single Malt Welsh Whisky PGI pepper sauce and celeriac

Three Single Malt Welsh Whisky PGI cocktails: 

• Dà Mhìle Single Malt Welsh Whisky PGI Old Fashioned
• Penderyn Portwood Single Malt Welsh Whisky PGI Manhattan
• In the Welsh Wind Single Malt Welsh Whisky PGI Cherry Whisky Sour.

A COUNCIL scheme to build 24 affordable homes for the elderly at the site of the former Motor World building in Milford Haven is expected to be backed by county planners next week despite a Welsh Government stop on permission awaiting the size of bin lorries before it can be removed.

W B Griffiths & Sons Ltd, on behalf of Pembrokeshire County Council, in an application before the council’s planning committee on November 5, is seeking approval for the construction of a new residential redevelopment of 24 affordable apartments for older people at 70A-80A Charles Street.

It is proposed to build 21 one-bed apartments and three two-bed apartments, along with associated works.

The former Motor World site was cleared in 2018 to enable redevelopment, with planning permission granted on the site for the development of 15 affordable apartments for over-55s in 2020.

Back in 2021, site contractors WRW construction, which had a number of projects ongoing in Pembrokeshire, was put into administration by its directors under what was described as, ‘significant financial stress’.

The latest application, submitted through agent DPP Planning, follows a public consultation earlier this year.

DPP Planning, in its consultation statement for the latest application, has said: “The council has now instructed W B Griffiths, a Pembrokeshire-based construction company, to develop the site subject to a number of changes.

“The main change is to increase the number of apartments on site to 24 to make best use of the site by increasing the availability of affordable homes for over-55s.”

Two representations have been received in relation to the proposal, with Milford Hubberston county councillor Viv Stoddart has advised that she has raising concerns about insufficient parking space for residents and their carers, which she says have not been addressed by the  Pre-Application Consultation.

The report says that Welsh Government has issued a Holding Direction to the effect that planning

A second representation raises an objection that full length windows at the end of corridors on each floor would cause overlooking due to proximity to the boundaries.

It is suggested this issue could be addressed by introducing opaque glazing to these windows.

The application is recommended for conditional approval but is subject to a Welsh Government Holding Direction where planning permission cannot be granted until a vehicle Swept Path Analysis has been submitted demonstrating that a turning area can be provided within the site for the largest type of vehicle that would serve the site.

The report says there have been some delays in getting this, latterly due to the agent awaiting information on the dimensions of the council’s refuse vehicles, adding provision of the turning area may require a reduction in the area of green space proposed to retain the 10 car parking spaces.

Delegated authority is requested for the Head of Planning to approve the application following resolution of this issue.