THE FINAL stage of approval for a near-£10m Pembrokeshire residential development of 52 homes has been given the go-ahead.

Back in April, members of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee backed an application by Wakefield Pembrokeshire Ltd for the development, which includes four one-bed affordable housing units, on land near Pilgrims Way, Roch.

18 objections to the scheme were received, raising concerns including an “inadequate” affordable housing level, it being a high density development for a rural area, a loss of green space, the size of some of the homes, and pressures on existing services and facilities, and fears it may lead to an increase in second homes.

Nolton & Roch Community Land Trust (N&RCLT) has raised its concerns about a lack of affordable homes at the development, calling for a 20 per cent affordable homes element, as recommended by policy.

An officer report for members, recommending conditional approval, said: “It is apparent that the proposed development is not fully policy compliant, insofar as it cannot deliver the indicative 20 per cent affordable housing sought [by policy].

“However, a substantial positive social impact will arise through the provision of housing, including four one-bed affordable housing units, in meeting identified needs for both market and affordable housing.

“Financial obligations identified to mitigate adverse impacts arising from the proposed development cannot be met in full. However, [policy] acknowledges that in such circumstances contributions may be prioritised on the basis of the individual circumstances of each case.”

Speaking at the meeting, agent Gethin Beynon said the project had a “significant economic value” of around £10m, and the local applicant had “a sense of stewardship to the local community,” offering affordable housing and community infrastructure towards highways and education.

Approval was delegated to the council’s head of planning to approve the application, subject to the completion of a Section 106 planning obligation, making community financial contributions.

The Section 106 agreement was recently agreed, with the application now formally approved.

AN EVENT hosted by Ledwood Engineering gave girls from Year 8 and 9 at Ysgol Harri Tudur first-hand experience of the world of engineering recently. 

Engineering is a booming sector in Pembrokeshire with a high demand for skilled workers in exciting career pathways associated with the development of low carbon and renewable energy industry and the Celtic Freeport. 

The young women heard from industry experts on the importance of engineering in Pembrokeshire, and had hands on experience using a welding simulator, at the company’s Pembroke Dock site. 

The learners are part of the County’s SPARC (Sustainable Power and Renewable Construction) initiative aimed as inspiring and empowering young females to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) pathways where females are under-represented in the workforce. 

SPARC is funded through an alliance comprising Blue Gem Wind, Ledwood Engineering, Port of Milford Haven, RWE Renewables, Pembrokeshire County Council, Pembrokeshire College and the Swansea Bay City Deal. 

Mrs Laura Buckingham, SPARC practitioner at Ysgol Harri Tudur said: “Our learners had a fantastic experience at Ledwood Engineering.  They were given lots of advice by industry experts on the different career options and pathways within the engineering sector.  

“They appreciated the opportunity to ask their questions and found the session very informative. Having the chance to trial their welding skills on the simulator was an experience they continue to talk about and has definitely piqued their interest.”

Poppy Sawyer, Year 8 SPARC learner added:  ‘It was a really good trip. Talking to the different people there has helped me know more about the jobs we could get which will be very useful when making choices for my future.”  

 “They helped us a lot by giving us lots of information. We were able to look around and try welding. It was really fun,” added Tianna Marshall, Year 8 SPARC learner.

The Regional Learning and Skills Partnership also launched its Explore Engineering interactive website at the event.

A CALL for clarity about when Pembrokeshire councillors learned the second homes council tax premium also applied to the police precept for Dyfed-Powys as a whole was heard at the December meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council.

Second homes in Pembrokeshire are to pay a 150 per cent council tax premium from the next financial year, down from a previous 200 per cent premium, what was effectively a treble council tax rate, after a drop was recently backed.

That premium also applies to the police precept and the town or community council precept.

In two related submitted questions heard at the meeting, member of the public Sian Evans asked: “When Pembrokeshire councillors first agreed to impose a [second homes] premium on council tax in 2016, they voted to apply the premium (initially 50 per cent) to the basic council tax rate.

“However, council tax bills for second homeowners have always multiplied all three elements of the council tax bill: the basic council tax, the town/community council precept and the police precept.

“This year the police precept (Band E) was £400. With the premium this increased to £1,200. It should be remembered that the collection of the premium was intended to offset the negative effects of second homes in Pembrokeshire.

“Given that councillors were unaware of the need to multiply all three components of the council tax bill when they voted for the adoption of the council tax premium, when were councillors subsequently informed – in the intervening seven years – of this requirement?”

Her second question asked: “Precept collected from second homeowners in the name of Dyfed Powys Police is allocated widely across four counties [Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Carmarthenshire and Powys]. Those who should be able to, find it difficult to explain the calculation, allocation and application of the precept, or how the charging of extra precept that is spent in three other counties, can offset the negative effects of second homes in Pembrokeshire.

“Would the council make an undertaking to provide a simple yet thorough explanation of this extra police precept to the satisfaction of those who pay it, and those who agreed to it, in readiness for the new financial year?”

Responding at the December meeting, Cabinet Member for Finance Cllr Joshua Beynon said: “The rate is up to 300 per cent of amount payable for that dwelling, with no distinction for police and town or community council. The premium does not increase overall funding for the Dyfed-Police and Crime Commissioner but it does change the proportion Pembrokeshire County Council has to fund.”

He added: “Whilst it may not have always been explicit in reports to members that the council tax precept applied to all three elements of the council tax; this is an element of the legislation.”

He told members the council had asked for the police authority to produce a simpler explanation of its precept for the 2025-26 financial year.

Members have previously heard the police part of the overall council tax bill for ordinary taxpayers in Pembrokeshire was lowered by a small amount as second-home-owners pay a premium.

On last year’s rates the police precept for a non-second-home average Band D property would have increased from £290.16 to £296.12 without the additional revenue from the second homes tax premium.