PLANS to build a new slurry lagoon at a 650-dairy herd Pembrokeshire farm have been given the go-ahead.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Richard Morris of Bowett Ltd sought permission for the construction of the lagoon, and associated works, at Quoits Hill Farm, Bentlass Road, Hundleton, near Pembroke.

A supporting statement through agent Cynllunio RW Planning Ltd stressed the applicant does not intend to increase livestock numbers on farm as a result of this 60 by 35 metre development.

“The Morris Family farm at Quoits Hill Farm and specialise in dairy farming. The farm is home to approximately 650 dairy cows plus followers. The herd is autumn calving with milk sold to Laprino. The home farm is grass based and extends to over 300 acres, with more off lying land utilised for growing winter forage.

“The family have invested significantly in recent years in on farm infrastructure to include a rotary milking parlour, silage clamps and covered feed yards.”

It added: “The proposed development seeks to increase the farms slurry storage capacity to above the five-month storage required by NVZ regulations. The existing slurry store and slurry handling facilities are not adequate to comply with the new regulations.”

It went on to say: “The proposed store will provide the farm with 6452 cubic meters of storage capacity (minus freeboard) which will equate to over 171 days storage.  It is proposed to use the existing field slurry store as a lightly fouled water store to collect the parlour washings and reduce the size of the store required. Slurry will continue to be scrapped into the existing yard store and then pumped to the new store when required. This work will be monitored closely to reduce the risk of any leakage.”

It concluded: “The proposed development will enable slurry to be spread during the growing season rather than during more difficult weather conditions in the winter. This will be of benefit to farm efficiency and the wider environment.”

The application was conditionally approved.

PREVIOUSLY refused plans to convert an upstairs storage area for a gym on the site of a former Pembrokeshire town centre church to a flat have been given the go-ahead.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Gethin Beynon sought permission for a change of use of a second-floor storage area associated with the Synergy Health and Fitness Centre, Trinity Building, Meyrick Street, Pembroke Dock to residential accommodation.

The site was formerly the Bethel Baptist Church, in the town’s conservation area.

A previous 2021 application was refused on the grounds a balcony and roof lights would impact on the character and appearance of the building, and the conservation area, and “would result in a material and unacceptable increase in the levels of overlooking and would also result in the perceived overlooking of the private amenity areas of the dwellings immediately to the north and east of the site”.

The resubmitted application sought to address those reasons, with changes including a removal of the balcony to the north, a reduction in the number of velux windows, and amended designs.

A supporting statement said: “This amended design is not considered to result in a significant harmful overlooking impact and would reduce any overlooking perception to an acceptable level.

“With regard to amenity provision, this is limited, however given the proposal only forming a two-bedroom unit and having a sustainable location being in the Pembroke Dock settlement, with open space amenity provision and facilities being nearby the proposal would be acceptable.”

An officer report, recommending approval, said: “The development would provide new open market housing within the settlement boundary of the Hub Town of Pembroke Dock, resulting in positive environmental and social impacts through the appropriate reuse of the building and the increase in availability of varied accommodation in the local area and positive economic benefits through expenditure on building materials and on labour during constriction.”

The application was conditionally approved.

WORKS have started on the demolition of the “eyesore” site of the fire-ravaged former Cleddau Bridge Hotel, Pembroke Dock, which will see 35 affordable homes built on site.

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

The site has 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.

Late last year, Castell Group Property Specialists, through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, was granted permission by the council’s planning committee to demolish what is left of the hotel, with a development of 100 per cent affordable housing units, in a mix of a mix of social rent and affordable housing.

The 35 homes will range in size and consist of various affordable housing, such as social, supported, and intermediate rent.

All properties will be owned and rented by Pembrokeshire County Council.

Speaking at the December 2024 planning meeting before permission was granted, agent Andrew Vaughan-Harries said: “It’s going to be a new site of council houses, a private package to develop these 35 houses; if and when these houses are built they will be acquired by Pembrokeshire County Council as the next phase of housing stock. It will be your council houses for Pembroke Dock.”

Castell Group, in partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council, recently completed the sale for the redevelopment of the site.

Cllr Joshua Beynon, local member, has previously said: “I am really pleased to see the council developing this piece of land that has been left as an eyesore since it caught fire some years ago. Housing is what we need, and I’m really pleased to see it happening here.”

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, subsequently granted permission in February 2023, but never progressed.

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.