Business

Landlords count the costs of building safety bill

Published

4 months ago

October 11, 2025

LANDLORDS have warned the cost of building safety reforms could be far higher than the estimated £132m, with tenants likely to foot much of the bill through higher rents.

The Welsh Government’s estimate of £62 for each house in multiple occupation (HMO) for total yearly costs of the building safety bill is a severe underestimate, according to landlords.

The National Residential Landlords’ Association (NRLA) said a full fire risk assessment alone typically costs £394.50, plus a £100-a-year review, and required upgrades can cost up to £15,000 for a single property.

Writing to the Senedd’s housing committee, the NRLA said: “These costs will generally be passed on to tenants through rent – although significant costs can lead to unprofitability… causing sell-offs and reducing the total stock available.”

Landlords also warned: “The proposals outlined in the building safety bill provide a weak method of enforcement against tenants who regularly fail to comply with their duties.

“As a result, it is likely to be slow, cumbersome and provide no meaningful way for landlords to compel a tenant to stop breaching their own fire safety duties.”

During a housing committee meeting on Thursday (October 9), the private and social housing sectors broadly backed the principles of the bill which was brought forward to ensure the 2017 Grenfell tragedy – in which 72 people died – can never happen again.

But witnesses warned of practical implementation problems and unintended consequences.

Calling the £62-a-year cost estimate “far, far away”, Steven Bletsoe – the NRLA’s deputy director – told Senedd Members: “We cannot understand where that figure has come from.”

Timothy Douglas, from Propertymark, a professional body for sales and letting agents, agreed: “Unfortunately, the government assessment is an underestimation.”

Jaclyn Mangaroo, from the Property Institute, which represents residential property managers, pointed to high costs for wider compliance even before remediation.

Ms Mangaroo said the largely England-only Building Safety Act similarly “massively underestimated” upfront costs as she suggested service charges for leaseholders will rise. She described claims insurance premiums could fall under the new system as a “myth”.

Concerns about costs were echoed by social housing landlords.

Community Housing Cymru (CHC), a membership body for housing associations, warned: “Without targeted funding support, there is a risk that landlords may be forced to pass costs on to tenants and leaseholders, which we believe would be unacceptable.”

CHC said it sought legal advice which showed parts of the bill were “poorly drafted”, relying heavily on secondary legislation and guidance to follow which creates a “guessing game”.

Calling for proportionality, CHC head of policy Bethan Proctor said one housing association warned it would cost £100,000 a year to do fire assessments for lower-risk buildings.

Duncan Forbes, chief executive of Trivallis housing association, and CHC head of policy Bethan Proctor

Duncan Forbes, chief executive of Trivallis housing association, told the committee: “I definitely think a bill is necessary, whether this bill is the right one is another question.”

He said: “There’s nothing in here about personal emergency evacuation plans, whereas England has got those being introduced. There’s nothing about sprinklers… those are the things that would actually be of more value than some of the things that are in here.”

ClwydAlyn housing association in north Wales told the committee: “Its success will ultimately depend on adequate funding for regulators, effective industry support, and careful monitoring to ensure costs do not unfairly fall on residents.”

Business

Councillor condemns closure of Haverfordwest Santander branch

Published

54 minutes ago

January 29, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A PEMBROKESHIRE councillor has spoken out after learning that the Santander branch in Haverfordwest is set to close later this year, warning the decision will have a serious impact on local residents, families and businesses.

The bank’s Bridge Street branch is due to close on Monday (May 5) as part of a wider UK restructuring programme.

Councillor Thomas Baden Tudor said he was “lost for words” and urged the bank to reconsider, describing the closure as devastating for customers who rely on face-to-face services.

Santander says the decision is driven by declining footfall, with more customers banking online, and that services will remain available via digital platforms and Post Office counters.

However, the announcement follows a steady erosion of high-street banking in Pembrokeshire. The Herald recently reported that Haverfordwest’s former Halifax branch is set to reopen as a nail salon.

In what appears to be a serious failure of planning, there is now not a single bank branch left anywhere in south Pembrokeshire. Towns including Tenby, Pembroke and Pembroke Dock are all without face-to-face banking facilities.

North Pembrokeshire has also been affected, with Fishguard and St Davids now lacking bank branches.

Pembrokeshire is understood to be left with just four bank branches in total — Nationwide in Milford Haven, and HSBC, NatWest and Lloyds Bank in Haverfordwest.

Business

Bluestone celebrates King’s Award for Enterprise at official ceremony

Published

18 hours ago

January 28, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Pembrokeshire resort recognised as UK leader in sustainable tourism

BLUESTONE NATIONAL PARK RESORT has formally received The King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development, marking a major milestone for the Pembrokeshire-based resort.

The prestigious honour — the UK’s highest business award — was presented during an official ceremony at Bluestone’s Serendome by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Dyfed, Miss Sara Edwards. It recognises Bluestone as the first holiday resort in the country to receive the award for sustainable development.

During the visit, the Lord-Lieutenant met founder and chief executive William McNamara, director of sustainability Marten Lewis, staff members and invited guests, while also learning more about the resort’s long-term environmental strategy and its relationship with the local community.

The award follows an extensive assessment of Bluestone’s environmental, social and economic performance. Judges highlighted major progress in reducing carbon emissions, the resort’s move to a fossil-fuel-free operation for all purchased energy — a first for a UK holiday park — and its adoption of circular economy principles. Bluestone was also praised for its support for the local economy, its work to protect and enhance wildlife, and an internal culture where sustainability is shared across the organisation. Around thirty per cent of the business is staff-owned.

Speaking at the ceremony, Miss Edwards said: “It was a great pleasure to present Bluestone with The King’s Award for Enterprise and to see first-hand the work they are doing. The team’s passion for sustainability and their commitment to protecting the local area in Pembrokeshire shone through during my visit. Bluestone’s work is having a positive and lasting impact, and they should be extremely proud of what they have achieved.”

The recognition comes at a time when the tourism sector is under increasing pressure to balance growth with environmental protection, as travellers place greater emphasis on sustainable destinations.

Marten Lewis, who has led Bluestone’s sustainability strategy, has been central to developing what the resort describes as its “operational blueprint” — combining environmental protection, community partnerships and local economic support. He has also represented Bluestone nationally and was recently congratulated in person by King Charles III at a reception for King’s Award recipients.

Reflecting on the achievement, Mr Lewis said sustainability was fundamental to the way the resort operates. He added that the award recognised years of collective effort across the business and would act as a powerful incentive to continue pushing standards higher.

Chief executive William McNamara said the award reflected a long-standing commitment to responsible tourism. He said that as travel continues to evolve, businesses have a growing duty to protect the places people come to enjoy, adding that national recognition of Bluestone’s approach was a moment of pride for the entire team.

Formerly known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, the programme was renamed following the accession of King Charles III. Since its launch in 1965, more than 8,000 UK businesses have been recognised for outstanding achievement.

Business

Final wind turbine deliveries completed after months of disruption

Published

19 hours ago

January 28, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Last major component reaches site as Dragon LNG and Dragon Energy thank communities for patience

DRAGON LNG and Dragon Energy have confirmed that the final large component for a new wind turbine project has now been successfully delivered, bringing months of complex abnormal load movements on Pembrokeshire roads to an end.

The companies said the final turbine blade was delivered to the site on Wednesday (Jan 28, 2026), marking the completion of all major component deliveries associated with the project.

In a statement, Dragon LNG and Dragon Energy thanked the local community for its patience and cooperation throughout the delivery programme, acknowledging that the operation caused disruption on local roads.

Residents across parts of the county have previously experienced temporary road closures, traffic delays and police escorts as oversized turbine components were transported from the Port of Milford Haven to the site under tightly controlled conditions.

The abnormal load movements required months of detailed planning and coordination, involving route surveys, traffic management, police support and liaison with local authorities to ensure deliveries were carried out safely and with minimal disruption wherever possible.

The companies also apologised for the inconvenience caused during the delivery phase, saying the support and understanding shown by residents had been “invaluable” in allowing the project to reach this milestone.

A number of organisations were involved in supporting the operation, including Pembrokeshire County Council, Dyfed-Powys Police, haulage specialists Collett & Sons Ltd and Green Light Traffic Management.

Local media outlets, including The Pembrokeshire Herald, provided advance notice and updates during the delivery process to help keep residents informed.

With the final major deliveries now complete, Dragon LNG and Dragon Energy said the project would continue to progress to the next phase of construction on site.