Local Government

Council re-approves £14.3m contract for Haverfordia House redevelopment after costs rise

Published

2 months ago

January 9, 2026

Delays, inflation and expired contractor pricing blamed as scheme timetable slips to 2027

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has re-approved a £14.3m construction contract for the redevelopment of the former Haverfordia House site in Haverfordwest, after delays led to increased costs and a later completion date.

The scheme will deliver 26 affordable flats, a 12-bed reablement facility, and communal spaces on the prominent town-centre site, replacing the former council office building which was demolished several years ago.

Cabinet members agreed in November to award the revised contract to C Wynne and Sons Ltd, after officers warned that further delays could result in additional inflationary pressures and place Welsh Government funding at risk.

The decision was taken in private session due to commercial sensitivity and did not feature in public Cabinet headlines at the time. Full details of the revised contract value and cost increases only became clear after further examination of Cabinet papers released following a Freedom of Information response received today (Jan 9).

Earlier approval no longer sufficient

The project was first approved by Cabinet in June 2025, with a further decision in July 2025 allowing council match-funding for the reablement element. At that time, the approved construction contract stood at £13.56m.

However, confirmation of key Welsh Government funding was not received until October 2025, by which point the period during which the contractor had held its original price offer had expired. During the same period, the main contractor was also required to appoint a new groundworks subcontractor.

Council officers told Cabinet that these factors, combined with construction inflation, resulted in a revised maximum contract sum of £14,306,279, an increase of around £746,000 on the previously approved figure.

Funding secured — but warnings issued

The overall development cost of the scheme is £17.53m, which the council says remains within its approved capital programme.

Funding includes Social Housing Grant, Housing with Care Fund, and Integrated Care Fund support from Welsh Government, alongside contributions from the council’s Housing Revenue Account and corporate capital budgets.

Officers warned that declining or delaying the award could place more than £9m of external grant funding at risk, while also increasing costs linked to site management, professional fees, and ongoing pressure on housing and social care services.

Scheme expanded to include extra flat

Since earlier approvals, the design has been amended to increase the number of flats from 25 to 26. A bedsit on the second floor has been reconfigured to meet Welsh Development Quality Requirements, creating an additional fully compliant unit and increasing future rental income.

The council said the change would strengthen the scheme’s long-term viability while adding to Pembrokeshire’s affordable housing stock.

Long-planned development

The redevelopment plans were first publicly outlined in February 2022, when Cllr Michelle Bateman, then Pembrokeshire County Council’s cabinet member for housing, described the project as a significant opportunity for both housing and health services.

At the time, Cllr Bateman said the proposals would provide accommodation not only for people seeking a new home, but also for those recovering from hospital treatment who were not yet ready to return to independent living.

“This remains a hugely positive phase of development for the council,” she said. “The Haverfordia project is particularly exciting as it is a fantastic collaboration between the Housing and Social Services departments of Pembrokeshire County Council.

“Pembrokeshire fully deserves to have a resource such as this and so many people will benefit — not just those seeking a new home, but those who are recovering from a medical procedure and not quite able to return immediately to their own homes, while also helping to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions.”

She added that local residents were encouraged to engage with the planning process, with the council keen to consider the views of anyone with an interest in the development or who might be affected during the construction phase.

Completion pushed back

Construction is now expected to begin in January 2026, with completion forecast for September 2027, six months later than originally planned.

Council officers cautioned that any further delays could result in additional cost increases due to inflation, while also prolonging pressure on hospital capacity, social care services, and the county’s housing register.

Legal and financial officers confirmed that the revised contract value was lawful, affordable, and did not breach procurement rules, as the contractor had been appointed through a two-stage process.

Cabinet approved the revised contract unanimously.

Local Government

Pensioner fined for playing loud music despite repeated warnings

Published

16 hours ago

February 23, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A NEYLAND pensioner who continued to play loud music despite numerous warnings has been fined after being convicted of breaching a Community Protection Notice.

Complaints had been made about Beryl John, of Gothic Road, with neighbours reporting persistent noise nuisance. Pembrokeshire County Council officers gathered evidence using the NoiseApp system, which demonstrated that the noise was causing a detriment to nearby residents. This led to a Community Protection Warning (CPW) being issued.

However, the behaviour continued. The council said John also behaved abusively towards council officers and Dyfed-Powys Police, resulting in the warning being escalated to a formal Community Protection Notice (CPN).

Despite the notice, John failed to comply, and the council brought proceedings before the court.

John did not attend Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Feb 5) and was convicted in her absence.

Magistrates imposed a £1,000 fine, along with a £400 victim surcharge and £1,000 prosecution costs.

The court heard that if the anti-social behaviour continues, the council may return to court to seek a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), breaches of which can result in community penalties or even imprisonment.

Cllr Jacob Williams, Cabinet Member for Planning and Regulatory Services, said: “The council works with partners such as Dyfed-Powys Police and housing associations to tackle anti-social behaviour like this, which so greatly affects the quality of residents’ lives.

“As with all cases of this nature, it is a shame that things had to come before the court, but the defendant had many opportunities to avoid matters escalating simply by improving their conduct, and hopefully that will now happen.”

Community

Pembrokeshire Milford Haven children’s home approved

Published

2 days ago

February 22, 2026

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

PLANS for a new “in-house” council children’s care home near Milford Haven have been given the go-ahead by the county council itself.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, the local authority, through agent Oochitecture, sought permission for a change of use of a residential dwelling to a children’s home, along with associated works, at Sentry Cottage, Jordanston, near the Sentry Cross roundabout on the approach to Milford Haven.

An officer report recommending approval said of the two-storey, six-bed house some 1.3km east of Milford Haven: “Alterations and extensions are proposed to the dwelling including a single storey extension is proposed to the west elevation to create a larger office and storeroom, with a two storey extension to the east to provide a larger lounge and dining area and bedroom to the first floor. Externally a large parking area would be created to the east of the dwelling.”

It went on to say: “The application is for a new facility, although there is a suggestion within the submitted information that the dwelling has previously been used as a children’s care home although there is no planning history at the site to suggest this was formally approved.

“However, the use being sought under via this application would be located within an existing dwelling subject to extensions. The application contains detailed information outlining the need for the proposed development including detailed information about the loss of three existing places when the site stopped operating as a children’s home in February 2025.

“As such, supporting information confirms the site as an excellent opportunity to increase ‘in-house’ provision for Pembrokeshire County Council, allowing children from Pembrokeshire receive care closer to home. Information has also been provided to show the year-on-year increase of children requiring the type of care the proposal will offer.”

It further added: “The proposed single storey and two storey extensions would be of a scale that would appear subservient to the host dwelling and have an acceptable visual impact on the host dwelling, with the use of appropriate finish materials.”

The application was conditionally approved by county planners.

Local Government

Candidate who withdrew from Hakin race will still appear on ballot paper

Published

2 days ago

February 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Election law means Labour hopeful’s name cannot be removed after nominations close

THE LABOUR candidate who withdrew from the Hakin county council by-election yesterday will still appear on ballot papers when voters go to the polls next month.

Nicola Harteveld announced she was stepping back from the race after nominations had already closed, meaning election officials are legally unable to remove her name from the ballot or allow Welsh Labour to nominate a replacement candidate.

***The First Minister, Eluned Morgan MS, with labour supporters out campaigning for Nicola Harteveld on Saturday (Feb 21)***

Under UK election rules, once the deadline for nominations passes and candidates are formally confirmed, the ballot paper is fixed except in very limited circumstances, such as the death of a candidate. Withdrawal after that point does not change the ballot.

As a result, Harteveld will remain listed as the Welsh Labour candidate for the Hakin ward when voting takes place on Tuesday, March 17, even though she is no longer campaigning.

***The First Minister gave Nicola Harteveld her endorsement earlier this week in a social media video***

Potential confusion for voters

One elector in the ward told The Herald the situation could lead to uncertainty at the polling station.

“This will cause confusion, and technically means she could still be elected, when in reality she doesn’t want to be,” the resident said.

Any votes cast for Harteveld will still be counted in the election result, as there is no mechanism to invalidate votes for a candidate who has voluntarily withdrawn after the close of nominations.

If a withdrawn candidate were to receive the most votes, further procedural steps could be required, potentially including a fresh election depending on the circumstances at that stage.

Background to withdrawal

Harteveld stepped back from the contest after reporting verbal abuse directed towards her son, in a development that also led to political controversy after the First Minister visited the ward to support her campaign on the same day she did not attend and later confirmed her withdrawal.

Because nominations had already closed by that point, Labour was unable to field another candidate, leaving the party without an active campaign presence in the contest.

Election context

The Hakin by-election was called following the death of long-serving Independent councillor Mike Stoddart.

The remaining active candidates are:

Derrick Abbott (Independent)
Sam Booth (Wales Green Party)
Lee James Bridges (Independent)
Duncan Edwards (Independent)
Brian Taylor (Welsh Conservative)
Scott Thorley (Reform UK)
Sam Warden (Welsh Liberal Democrats)

Polling stations across the ward will be open from 7:00am to 10:00pm on March 17.