APPROVED plans to change part of Tenby’s former town hall and market hall, and the nearby former TP Hughes department store to a spa hotel, restaurant and café could be completed in just 18 months despite concerns from local traders.

In an application recommended for conditional approval at the April 9 meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee, Wil Crockford of Bassett Crockford Holdings Ltd sought permission for a change of use the former TP Hughes/ M&Co store and a part change of use of the council-owned market hall and former town hall to a spa hotel, restaurant and cafe/bar, with associated extensions and alterations at 12 High Street and Old Town Hall and Market Hall, Tenby.

The development for a new hotel extends across two buildings; the 20 hotel rooms will be located within the remaining upper floors of the existing M & Co buildings, and two new roof extensions in a mansard form to accommodate further hotel space.

The spa would be located at first floor level of the town hall aspect, and into the market’s first floor.

Further facilities in the form of a café will be linked to the hotel reception area at ground floor with additional toilet facilities and bicycle storage provided within the basement level. The proposed restaurant will be accommodated within the southern building.

The scheme was supported by Tenby Town Council, subject to conditions including the protection of existing market operations, and an agreed action plan for integration with potential refurbishment of the market, with Tenby Civic Society has raising concerns about the spa/fitness suite having an impact on the running of the market traders’ businesses.

Concerns have previously been raised about the impact on existing market traders during construction both in terms of noise and dust during works and a potential temporary market closure for construction work to be undertaken, with Cathy Butler speaking on their behalf at the April 9 meeting.

She said that while the market itself – believed to be the oldest in Wales – was flourishing despite the building being in need of renovation, there had been a lack of reassurance and feedback from the council, as landlords of the hall, as the proposed scheme progressed.

She stressed there was no objection to the neighbouring hotel but to the the potential impact on the market operations through the upstairs spa development.

“We’ve learned most of our news from the newspapers and we’re worried sick,” she told committee members, saying any impact on the market affected the “future of not just us but all our local suppliers as well”.

“Consider the small guy here; a spa is for the few, and the market for the many,” she added.

Agent Phil Davies told the committee there was no intention to disrupt the market, with the potential for putting that section of works on hold if there were any potential renovations to the hall through the council.

He said the whole scheme was expected to take 18 months to complete; the committee later hearing from local councillor Sam Skyrme-Blackhall that discussions were ongoing at council level with potential funding identified.

The application was given conditional delegated approval to senior park officers on completion of a S106 legal agreement to cover financial contributions.

A related listed building application was also granted delegated approval.

PLANS to convert a Pembrokeshire coach house barn as part of the expansion of a local holiday let business has been approved.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Mr and Mrs Rodney sought permission for the conversion at Johnston Hall, Church Road, Johnston, having recently purchased the existing business.

A supporting statement through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd said: “The business currently consists of three self-catering units of which two are within Johnston Hall and a third is a detached barn conversion as a disabled friendly holiday unit. This third unit has recently been completed and is open for business. All three existing holiday units offer high-quality visitor accommodation set within an attractive garden and wider grounds setting.”

More recent applications have been submitted for the site, including a scheme for three shepherd huts and a new covered swimming pool, with the latter to serve both personal use and for on-site holiday makers, which was refused permission last summer.

“Although this application was refused in July 2024, it is clear from reading the delegated report that there was no objection to the swimming pool element and that the refusal was solely in regard to the proposed three shepherd huts (i.e. siting and conflict with planning policy),” the statement says, adding: “A revised application for the provision of the covered swimming pool has recently been resubmitted for consideration by the council.

“A further stage of the business is to convert the two-storey traditional stone coach house building, located to the immediate east of the main house, for use as holiday accommodation, thus strengthening my client’s holiday let business.”

An officer report recommended approval for the holiday let, comprising five bedrooms over two levels of accommodation with associated car parking provision and external amenity space, said

The application was conditionally approved by county planners.

PLANS to redevelop a Pembrokeshire caravan site to create “a notably higher quality” facility which will actually see less pitches have been submitted.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Hean Castle Estate seeks permission for the redevelopment and extension of the existing Rowston Holiday Park, New Hedges, near Tenby, including the installation of bases for the siting of caravans; demolition of buildings; and the conversion of an agricultural barn to a residential dwelling, along with associated works.

Alongside Rowston, Hean Castle Estate owns and manages land and property locally including nearby Scar Farm Holiday Park with 145 owner-occupied static holiday homes and Coppet Hall Beach Centre, as well as agricultural, forestry and residential properties.

The proposals will see the actual number of holiday accommodation pitches at Rowston decrease from 225 to 187, “while making significant environmental enhancements to landscaping, visual effects, biodiversity and the highway network,” the applicants say.

A supporting statement through agent Lichfields says: “Substantial investment will be made by Hean Castle Estate that will result in the removal of dense and visually prominent caravans in linear layouts which will be replaced with lower density, relaxed layouts of muted colours that are embedded within extensive new native tree and hedgerow planting.

“The shift to create a notably higher quality caravan park will attract new and repeat visitors across most of the year, reinforcing the tourist accommodation offer in the National Park, in line with the objectives of the Local Development Plan.”

It says Rowston was previously operated by a third party under lease but its layout no longer meets “the demands of the modern tourism industry, and the lack of any substantial landscaping on the Park means that it does not fit with the estate’s ethos of maintaining a working landscape”.

It adds: “Hean Castle Estate aspires for Rowston Holiday Park to provide an attractive, well-landscaped retreat with mature trees and hedgerows. The static caravans would be sold to private owners and would not be available for sub-let.”

The proposed development includes the removal of the remaining existing bases, and installation of new bases for the siting of 172 static caravans across the existing holiday park and proposed extension area, with 95 bases in the existing park and 77 in the extension area, 15 touring pitch bases in the existing park, the demolition of former laundrette and diner buildings, demolition of two agricultural buildings, the conversion of a barn to manager accommodation, the creation of 273 parking spaces, and other works.

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