News

Milford Haven flat scheme under fire as unit cost tops £270,000

Published

8 months ago

May 3, 2025

£6.7m council project draws criticism amid questions over value for money

A £6.7 MILLION scheme to build 24 mostly one-bedroom flats for over-55s on Charles Street, Milford Haven, is facing mounting scrutiny — with each unit costing more than many three-bedroom houses in the area.

The development, led by Pembrokeshire County Council and earmarked for social housing, is being built on the former Motor World site. At an average of £270,000 per flat, critics say the price tag is out of step with both local property values and national building cost benchmarks.

Rising costs and delays

The project was first approved in 2020 with a plan for 15 flats. However, it stalled when the original contractor, WRW Construction, collapsed into administration in 2021. The scheme was later re-tendered and expanded to 24 units. In April 2025, the council awarded the new £6.7 million contract to W B Griffiths & Sons Ltd.

Each flat measures around 51 square metres. While ground-level parking is included, there are fewer spaces than units — meaning not all residents will have access to a bay.

“You could get a house for that”

***Asking questions: Cllr Mike Stoddart***

County councillor Mike Stoddart welcomed the long-delayed scheme finally moving forward, but raised serious concerns about its cost.
“I’m pleased that, after more than ten years of delays, this development is finally going ahead,” he told The Herald. “But £270,000 per small flat is eye-watering — you could get a three-bedroom house for that. Persimmon Homes would build you one, including the land, roads, and a profit.”

A resident on nearby Hamilton Terrace added: “My house was recently valued at £249,000. It’s a large, property — far bigger than any of these flats.”

Part of the cost increase is linked to stricter building regulations introduced by the Welsh Government. Under the Welsh Development Quality Requirements 2021 (WDQR), all publicly funded housing must meet enhanced standards for energy efficiency, accessibility, and space. These include banning gas boilers, ensuring digital connectivity, and making homes adaptable for future needs — all of which add to construction costs. Audit Wales estimates these standards could increase build costs by around 13%. But taking this into account would still put the cost per unit at around £240,000 before the estimated cost of the project meeting the new Welsh Government standards for publicly funded housing developments.

The motorworld building being demolished in july 2018 (video: herald)

Benchmark costs tell a stark story

The average build cost for a three-bedroom house in Wales in 2024 is £276,478, with construction-only estimates ranging from £253,439 (low benchmark) to £299,518 (high benchmark).

By contrast, the Charles Street flats come in at approximately £5,300 per square metre — more than double the Welsh mid-benchmark of £2,513/m².

Property analyst Tom Rees and others have raised concerns over the failure to consider alternative solutions. More than 750 long-term empty homes sit unused in Pembrokeshire — many of which could potentially be refurbished for a fraction of the Charles Street cost.

Council defends project

Pembrokeshire County Council says the high cost reflects several factors:

Inflation in the construction sector
Complexities of building on a constrained brownfield site
Requirements to meet high environmental and energy standards

The council also cites urgent housing need: over 4,500 people are currently on the county’s housing waiting list, with an annual shortfall of 475 affordable homes.

According to the “Pembrokeshire in Context” report, part of the Corporate Strategy 2025–2030, as of October 2024, there were 4,515 individuals on the Choice Homes @ Pembrokeshire housing waiting list.

While the need for more affordable housing is not in dispute, the cost of delivering it is.

With unit prices outstripping local values and national averages, and with hundreds of empty homes lying idle across the county, questions are being asked about whether the Charles Street development offers value — or a costly lesson in council procurement.

Community

Festive creativity shines as Kurtz MS meets card competition winner

Published

48 minutes ago

December 15, 2025

Tom Sinclair

SAMUEL KURTZ, Member of the Senedd for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, visited Pembroke Dock Community School on Friday 12th December to present a prize to the winner of this year’s Christmas Card Competition.

The competition invited pupils to design a festive Christmas card, with entries received from schools across the area. The standard of artwork was exceptionally high, showcasing the creativity, imagination and talent of young people in the community.

During the visit, Samuel Kurtz congratulated the winning pupil and thanked all those who took part, as well as the teachers and staff who supported the competition. Each child who entered also received a certificate in recognition of their hard work and effort.

Speaking after the presentation, Samuel said, “It was a real pleasure to visit Pembroke Dock Community School today and announce the winner of my Christmas Card competition. This year the winner is Mair Moseley, aged 10, and she designed a wonderful Santa image that really stood out. She has won a chocolate selection set and a £20 book token to enjoy over Christmas.”

He added, “ The creativity and enthusiasm shown by all the children was fantastic, and it made choosing a winner extremely difficult. I want to congratulate all the entrants and thank the staff for their ongoing support.”

Pembroke Dock Community School Headteacher, Mrs Katie Crockford-Morris, added, “We were delighted to welcome Samuel Kurtz MS to the school to present the prize. The children thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the competition, and they were incredibly proud to receive their certificates.”

The winning design will now be used as Samuel Kurtz’s official Christmas card this year, with one copy already on its way to His Majesty, King Charles.

Charity

Two Welsh families fund Childline across the UK on Christmas Day

Published

1 hour ago

December 15, 2025

Staff Writer

Joint £40,000 gift ensures vital support is available when children need it most

TWO Cardiff families have joined forces to fund the NSPCC’s Childline service across the whole of the UK on Christmas Day, ensuring children have somewhere to turn during one of the toughest times of the year.

The Peterson family and the Bowles family are each donating £20,000 as part of the charity’s One Unforgettable Day project. Their combined £40,000 contribution will cover the entire cost of running Childline for 24 hours on 25 December.

Childline operates 12 bases nationwide and offers a free, confidential service to anyone under 19, available day and night, 365 days a year. The festive period is often one of the most demanding for counsellors and volunteers; between 24 December 2024 and 4 January 2025, Childline delivered 4,261 counselling sessions.

Young people reach out to Childline for a range of reasons at Christmas, including mental health struggles, family tensions, financial worries, loneliness, and increased risks of abuse or domestic violence. With schools closed and regular support networks unavailable, demand for help typically rises.

Childline relies heavily on donations, fundraising and charitable partnerships. The support of Alan, Maggie and Hywel Peterson, and Nathan and Claire Bowles and their four children, will ensure counsellors are available throughout Christmas Day for any young person who needs them.

Hywel Peterson MBE, Chair of the NSPCC Cymru Fundraising Board, said:
“It’s an honour to help fund Childline across the whole of the UK this Christmas. This joint donation will ensure our dedicated staff and volunteers are there to support any child who needs us.”

Cardiff entrepreneur Nathan Bowles added:
“We know that Christmas can be a difficult time for some children, so our family is delighted to be joining forces with the Petersons this year to support this vital service.”

Louise Israel, Childline team manager at NSPCC Cymru’s Cardiff base, said:
“While children and young people need Childline all year round, we speak to many who find this time of year particularly difficult. It is only with the support of such generous people as the Peterson and Bowles families that our staff and volunteers can continue to be here throughout the Christmas holidays. This kindness will genuinely make a difference.”

Children can call Childline free on 0800 11 11 or visit www.childline.org.uk.
Anyone concerned about a child’s welfare can contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 or visit www.nspcc.org.uk for advice.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

13 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include: