PLANS to convert the basement of a Grade-II-listed former pub in a Pembrokeshire town’s conservation area to a flat have been submitted to the council.

In the application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Toyeb Ali Rahman, through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, seeks permission to convert the basement of the former Kings Arms Hotel, Dew Street, Haverfordwest, the building most recently used as an Indian takeaway, to a residential flat.

A supporting statement says: “The Kings Arms Public House was a public house and was formerly a coaching house with a range of former stables to the rear which have been converted to dwellings. It is a mid-terrace property fronting the western side of Dew Street close to the town centre of Haverfordwest,” adding: “Since closure the public house has been used as a takeaway restaurant and is a mixture of flats and offices.”

It goes on to say: “The application proposal only involves a small-scale conversion of a basement storage area associated with the former Kings Arms Hotel to a one bedroom residential flat. There would be no extensions with the only external alteration to the building being the replacement of a poorly detailed metal roller shutter door with conventional domestic entrance door with sidelight.

“As such, there would be no change to the impact of the building or proposal on the locality. In fact, basement area is not at all visible from the street scene along Dew Street.”

It stresses: “It is very clear from the listing description that the historic value of the building and the importance of the front array within the street scene is a major consideration when determining any application in the vicinity of a listed building.

“No alterations are planned for this and so it is deemed that no impact on the listed building is envisaged.”

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

PLANS for an InPost e-commerce parcel locker service at a Pembrokeshire seaside village have been submitted to the national park.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, InPost UK, through agent Skipton-based NL Jones Planning, seeks permission for an InPost Parcel Locker at Bay View Stores, Maes Ewan, Solva.

InPost is an affordable and easy-to-use parcel locker service throughout the UK where you can send and return parcels quickly with contact-free delivery.

A supporting statement says: “In 2024, we delivered 93.2 million parcels across the UK. We partner with a wide range of public and private landowners to host InPost Lockers – from local authorities, transport operators, supermarkets, independent retailers, small medium enterprises, and developers.”

It says e-commerce now accounts for 30 per cent of all retail UK sales, but “while this growth brings consumer convenience, the final leg of delivery – known as the ‘last-mile’ – is putting pressure on our streets and wallets, if all deliveries continue to be delivered to door,” with both more delivery vehicles on the road and “home deliveries more inconvenient and missed parcels more common” as more people return to the office post-Covid.

It adds: “InPost is committed to stimulating economic growth, having announced a further £600 million investment until 2029 bringing our total UK investment to £1 billion – supporting up to 12,000 jobs while boosting national and regional logistics capabilities.

“As a business, we also stimulate the local economy in several ways: Competitive industry leading postage rates – our latest service, Send, allows label-free parcel sending to any InPost locker or home-address from £1.99.

“This service offers substantial new business opportunities often for local small and medium businesses, such as Etsy sellers, offering a more convenient, efficient and cost-effective alternative to traditional services.”

It says the service also benefits small local businesses such as convenience stores through increased footfall, adding: “In exchange for hosting a locker, InPost pays landlords guaranteed rent, transforming unused spaces to become a popular in-demand community asset that also provides a new additional income stream.”

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

PLANS to extend a Pembrokeshire veterinary surgery which were previously refused have now been granted.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, IVC Evidensia, through agent Inspire Design Ltd, sought permission for an extension of the Oak Veterinary Surgery, Well Lane, Haverfordwest.

An earlier application was refused last September on the grounds officers considered there was insufficient information and evidence of foul drainage proposals submitted in support of the application to facilitate the completion of an Appropriate Assessment in order to determine the impact on the Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation and a lack of information about how the proposal could impact on protected species, namely bats.

Both applications raised no concerns from Haverfordwest Town Council.

An officer report recommending approval for the latest scheme said the plans are “of moderate scale and appear as subservient in form to existing veterinary surgery,” adding: “The proposed alterations are of an acceptable design; the finish materials are deemed appropriate and appropriately match the existing.”

In went on to say the latest application was accompanied a detailed ecology survey which said “there was no evidence of bat emerging from the building on either survey, thus demonstrating sufficient evidence the proposed development will not pose a harmful impact on protected species”.

On the potential impact on the Marine SAC, the report said: “The development is for the extension to existing veterinary practice.

“It is considered that as the existing toilets and proposed toilets and lab/surgery rooms will be used in the main by local residents attending the local veterinary surgery for appointment already served by residential connections to existing public or private sewers discharging within the SAC catchment, the proposed development will not lead to an intensification in nutrient inputs to the SAC.”

The application was conditionally approved.