PLANS to convert a vandalised former Pembrokeshire town centre Chinese restaurant to a flat and bedsits are expected to be approved next week.

In an application recommended for approval the January 13 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Mr S Sahin and Miss S Ahmed, through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, seek permission for a change of use of Grade-II-listed 20 Hamilton Terrace, Milford Haven from the former Mandarin Restaurant to one flat and eight bedsits, an amendment of an original scheme which included one extra bedsit.

The scheme is before committee rather than delegated to officers as it is recommended for approval despite being contrary to a policy of the development plan.

The application for the Mandarin follows a withdrawn scheme for three flats deemed invalid by council planners.

A supporting statement says: “The property has historically been in use as a Chinese restaurant on the ground floor with two flats on the upper floors of the building. The ground floor use of the building ceased some 10 years ago and currently lies vacant. Due to the lack of use of the building, it is in a very poor condition and has been the subject of unfortunate vandalism particularly to the interior of the building.”

It says that, after the previous scheme was withdrawn, the applicants have “since reviewed their position and now present revised applications to be considered by the council”.

It adds: “The clients have re-thought on what type of accommodation is needed and required in this part of Milford Haven.  It has been identified that the cheaper type of affordable housing for either workers or a single person is the most needed. Indeed, PCC Housing Need Register reflects this need, and this has also been confirmed by the local estate agents.”

It concludes: “The proposal is considered to put an important Grade-II-Listed Building back into beneficial use and would help to secure its long-term future. The proposal would represent a high-quality and sympathetic conversion and extension of the building, and which would make a positive contribution to the locality and conservation area status.”

An officer report recommending approval says one letter of objection was received raising concerns including potential impact on a neighbouring property and boundaries, and the discharge of the sewer under number 20.

It concludes: “The proposal is for the change of use of use with alterations and extensions to the building to create one self-contained flat and eight bedsits.  This would not accord [with policy] as it would involve the change of use of the ground floor to residential (C3) use in a Secondary Frontage.

“However, material planning considerations have been identified which are considered to be sufficient to justify a departure from the policy.”

A PLANNED changeover of vessels at Fishguard Harbour saw the MV Ben My Chree arrive in Pembrokeshire this week ahead of taking over the Fishguard–Rosslare route.

The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company vessel arrived at Fishguard Harbour at 2:14pm on Tuesday (January 6), alongside the Stena Nordica, but did not immediately enter service.

Instead, the Ben My Chree remained alongside overnight while essential restocking and preparations were completed. She officially began operating the Fishguard–Rosslare service on Wednesday (January 7).

Contrary to speculation, the Nordica has not been withdrawn from service. The changeover had been planned for several months as part of Stena Line’s fleet management programme. The Nordica is scheduled to cover other Stena routes while vessels across the fleet undergo dry docking, with the ship also due to have a new gearbox fitted during her time away from Fishguard.

However, the duration of her absence may now be extended following an unrelated incident at Holyhead Port on Wednesday, when the Stena Estrid suffered damage during a berthing manoeuvre. The vessel is understood to be holed and has since gone to dry dock.

The Holyhead cover had originally been expected to be provided by the Stena Edda, but the Estrid incident has altered Stena Line’s operational plans.

The Ben My Chree will now operate the Fishguard–Rosslare service while the Nordica is deployed elsewhere within the Stena fleet. The Ben My Chree is a roll-on, roll-off ferry capable of carrying up to 500 passengers and around 200 cars or approximately 95 freight vehicles.

Built in the Netherlands and launched in 1998, the vessel previously served routes between Heysham and Douglas and has operated the Fishguard–Rosslare crossing before as cover. While fitted with cabins, these are not currently available for booking, and the ship does not offer onboard wi-fi or a premium lounge.

Despite the changes, ferry operations at Fishguard are understood to be running as planned, with both freight and passenger services continuing uninterrupted.

Ben My Chree and Stena Nordica alongside at Fishguard Harbour on Wednesday afternoon (Pic: Marc Evans)

A PREVIOUSLY backed call against officer recommendations for the relocation of a Pembrokeshire farm diversification scheme which packages and distributes specialist medical equipment across Europe will again be considered by councillors.

At the December meeting of Pembrokeshire County council’s planning committee, members backed a call by Mr Van Der Spoel for the relocation and expansion of an existing farm diversification business into an existing agricultural building at Castle Villa, Hayscastle despite an officer recommendation for refusal.

Back in July a similar application by Mr Van Der Spoel, through agent Harries Planning Design Management, was refused by planning officers.

A supporting statement for that application said the Dutch-born applicant, together with his wife and adult daughter ran the farm diversification business packing specialist medical supplies at their 135-acre sheep farm.

It added: “The business run from this site is FRIO ASTRID EURO Ltd, which has a franchise agreement with FRIO UK. This business has been run from Castle Villa since its incorporation in 1998. The business was initially run from the stable building on the farmyard at Castle Villa.

“The business set-up involves receiving stock from FRIO UK in Wolfscastle, packaging orders and distributing the stock to seven Western Europe countries.”

Wolfscastle-based FRIO produces the world’s first patented insulin cooling wallet which keeps insulin and other temperature-sensitive medicines cool and safe.

The scheme for the business, said to have outgrown its current site, was previously refused by county planners on grounds including a lack of “robust evidence” to prove it couldn’t be sited within a nearby settlement or an allocated employment site, such as Haverfordwest.

Since then, an application seeking to address the reasons for refusal was submitted, and, at the request of local member Cllr Mark Carter, a call for the scheme to be decided by full planning committee rather than delegated to officers was backed at the October meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning delegation panel.

The latest application is again, after its ‘minded to’ backing at the December meeting, recommended for refusal on similar grounds to previously at the January 13 planning meeting.

It has returned to the January committee for ratification after a ‘cooling off’ period, and, if backed then, will ultimately be decided by full council.

A report for members following the ‘minded to’ approval, warns: “Members should be aware that if they are ‘minded to’ approve the application on the basis of economic benefits and farm diversification, this is a consideration which can be applied to many other existing sites. This would have further consequences for the implementation of policies within the LDP and its delivery.”

It adds that, if it is backed again, it includes a condition, suggested by the agent, that: “Should the farm and business ever be operating by different individuals/companies, the use of this building by FRIO ASTRID must cease and be relocated should further planning permission not be obtained.

“This will be regulated by the submission of documents annually to demonstrate the farm and business remain under ownership by the same individual/company.”