THE DEVELOPER behind the Ger y Môr development in Saundersfoot has formally signed an agreement with Pembrokeshire County Council to deliver new public housing on the site.

Persimmon Homes West Wales and the local authority have exchanged contracts for twenty-one new properties at the Sandy Hill Road development, which will be transferred to the Council upon completion to help ease housing pressure in Pembrokeshire.

All twenty-one homes will be made available for social rent. In addition, a further four properties at Ger y Môr will be reserved for local people through a local lettings initiative, bringing the total number of homes allocated to those on the housing waiting list to twenty-five.

The agreement was marked on site by representatives from Persimmon Homes, alongside Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Michelle Bateman, and Saundersfoot South county councillor, Cllr Chris Williams.

The Ger y Môr development will comprise seventy-two homes in total and will include a number of community and sustainability features. These include a new equipped children’s play area at the heart of the site and a dedicated active travel link connecting the development to Sandy Hill Road.

The scheme also incorporates a sustainable drainage system with bio-retention areas and rain gardens, alongside green technologies such as solar panels and electric vehicle charging points. Ecological measures have been built into the design to mitigate impacts on dormouse habitats and to preserve existing trees and hedgerows.

Persimmon Homes, an accredited five-star housebuilder, currently has three, four and five-bedroom homes available to purchase at Ger y Môr from £310,000, with two-bedroom properties due to be released shortly.

As part of its Community Champions scheme, Persimmon donates £48,000 each year to good causes across Wales. Recent local beneficiaries include Saundersfoot Cricket Club, Saundersfoot Rotary Club and the village’s New Year’s Day Swim.

Stuart Phillips, Managing Director of Persimmon Homes West Wales, said:
“Persimmon is determined to leave a positive community legacy wherever we build, and a key part of that commitment is the transfer of high-quality new homes to local housing partners.

“We are delighted to have exchanged contracts on this initial tranche of houses at Ger y Môr, and we hope this significant contribution will help alleviate pressure on the local housing list.

“We are pleased to be working in partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council as we progress this site and deliver much-needed homes for local people.”

Cllr Michelle Bateman, Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing, said:
“We’re delighted to be entering into partnership with Persimmon and to be taking on twenty-one new homes at Ger y Môr, helping us deliver secure, affordable homes for local people in Pembrokeshire.

“The purchase of these properties for social rent forms part of a wider range of affordable housing options we are providing to support families and individuals with different housing needs.

“This agreement reflects the Council’s ongoing commitment to increasing the supply of affordable homes and strengthening our local communities.”

Cllr Chris Williams, County Councillor for Saundersfoot South, added:
“Throughout this development I have been grateful to the Persimmon team, who have worked constructively with the community and listened to local concerns.

“Persimmon is a local developer, and it is hugely positive to see them supporting local people through the local lettings initiative in partnership with Pembrokeshire County Council.

“As a result of this agreement, twenty-five properties will be made available to those on the housing waiting list. This is an excellent outcome and a very positive step forward for residents hoping to remain in their own community.”

The trial has begun for a man accused of causing the death of six-month-old Sophia Kelemen in Tenby.

Flaviu Naghi, 34, formerly of Leigh and now of Luton, is charged with causing her death following an incident in a multi-storey car park on 2 January 2025. Sophia was hit on the ground floor and rushed to hospital, but tragically died from her injuries the following day. An inquest later heard she died from an intracranial haemorrhage caused by a road traffic collision.

Naghi has pleaded not guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, as well as an alternative charge of causing death by careless driving while unfit through drugs. During a brief plea hearing at Swansea Crown Court earlier this year, he spoke only to confirm his name and enter his pleas. Judge Catherine Richards adjourned the case at that stage and released him on conditional bail, with the trial initially scheduled to last a week.

At the opening of the trial, legal arguments were heard before the jury was called. Naghi is represented by John Hipkin KC and Dean Pulling, while the prosecution is led by Tom Crowther KC. Judge Richards adjourned briefly to consider points raised before proceedings continued.

The case has drawn significant attention in the local community, where the tragedy of Sophia’s death has left a lasting impact.

Pembrokeshire County Council has warned residents that worsening weather this afternoon, particularly in the east of the county, will affect roads and services.

The Council said it would be closing some services early to allow staff to travel home safely. Schools that opened as normal this morning are also set to close early.

Forecasters expect snow and sleet to become heavier later today in eastern parts of the county, which could lead to travel disruption on untreated roads. Overnight, road surface temperatures are forecast to fall to around -2.5°C, with the risk of sleet or snow on higher ground.

Council teams have been continuously gritting and patrolling all primary routes since yesterday afternoon. Precautionary salting, patrolling, and ploughing of primary and secondary routes will continue through the afternoon, evening, and overnight. Gritting route information is available on the Council’s website.

The Council added that road surfaces are likely to remain below freezing for much of tomorrow morning and into the early afternoon.

Due to high call volumes, residents are being asked to contact the Council only in emergencies or for urgent matters. Road users are advised to take care, particularly on untreated roads, and to travel only if essential.

The weather may also affect school openings tomorrow, with updates to be posted on the Council’s dedicated school closure page.