COUNCILLORS have approved plans for a new housing development of 48 homes, including ten affordable properties, on a west Wales estate.

The scheme at Maes y Dderwen in Cardigan was granted planning permission at the March 11 meeting of Ceredigion County Council’s Development Management Committee.

The application, submitted by TID Holdings Ltd through agent Trevor Hopkins Associates Ltd, forms part of the third phase of development at the Maes y Dderwen estate.

In total, the scheme will deliver 48 homes, ten of which will be affordable units in line with the council’s policy requiring 20 per cent affordable housing.

Cardigan Town Council supported the application but requested that a higher proportion of affordable housing be included.

One member of the public objected to the plans, arguing the development represented an overdevelopment of the site. Concerns were also raised about whether there was sufficient local demand for the homes, suggesting they could be purchased by buyers from outside the area, as well as raising questions about the impact on local infrastructure.

However, planning officers advised councillors that outline permission for residential development at Maes y Dderwen had first been granted in 1992, and the site has been subject to several planning applications since then.

The latest proposal includes 38 open-market homes comprising six three-bedroom bungalows, twelve four-bedroom detached houses, ten three-bedroom semi-detached houses, four three-bedroom terraced homes, and six two-bedroom flats.

The affordable housing element will consist of six three-bedroom semi-detached houses, one three-bedroom detached house, and three terraced homes, including two two-bedroom properties and one three-bedroom unit.

Planning officers said the mix of housing types would help meet a range of local housing needs.

The report stated that the inclusion of bungalows was “particularly positive” as it supports accessibility and lifetime homes principles, providing suitable housing for older residents and people with mobility needs. Flats and smaller terraced homes would provide options for first-time buyers and smaller households, while larger detached and semi-detached properties would help meet family housing demand.

The scheme also includes provision for communal accessible open space and a natural play area.

Responding to objections, the report noted that the site is allocated for housing within the development plan and that the proposed density is below recommended guidelines.

Officers added that planning policy cannot control who ultimately purchases the homes and confirmed that no statutory consultees had raised concerns about infrastructure capacity.

Members of the committee unanimously approved the development, subject to the completion of a Section 106 legal agreement and approval of the associated play space.

Affordable housing proportion rises as apartment plans replaced with family homes

AMENDMENTS to the final phase of a housing development in Saundersfoot have been approved, reducing the overall number of homes while increasing the proportion of affordable properties on the site.

Morgan Construction (Wales) Limited, through agent Evans Banks Planning Limited, sought permission to reconfigure the third phase of a residential development at Whitlow, Narberth Road, Saundersfoot.

The application was recommended for approval and came before members of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s Development Management Committee at its March meeting.

The original scheme, granted permission in 2023 and already partly built, allowed for a total of 54 homes. Under the revised proposals the number will be reduced to 47.

A planning officer’s report explained that the development is being built in phases. Phase one consists of 16 market homes, while phase two includes 19 affordable properties.

The application concerned the final stage of the project, known as phase three.

Under the original consent, phase three would have delivered 19 one- and two-bedroom apartments located in the centre of the site. However, the revised plans replace those flats with a mix of houses.

The new layout will include two three-bedroom detached houses, three two-bedroom detached bungalows, four two-bedroom terraced townhouses and three three-bedroom terraced townhouses.

This change reduces the number of homes in phase three from 19 apartments to 12 houses.

Although the number of affordable homes across the development will remain unchanged, the reduction in market housing increases the proportion of affordable properties on the site from 35.1 per cent to 40.4 per cent.

The applicants told planners that demand for the previously approved apartments had been limited. They said there was already a considerable supply of such properties in the lower part of Saundersfoot, while demand locally appeared stronger for homes suited to young families and for older residents wishing to downsize into smaller bungalows.

The report added that without the changes the final phase of the development could remain unbuilt, leaving future residents living on a partially completed site.

Committee members agreed to grant delegated approval to planning officers, subject to the completion of legal agreements covering planning obligations.

These include provisions to secure the affordable housing in perpetuity, along with financial contributions towards library services, recreational open space and sustainable transport.

AN APPEAL has been lodged against the refusal of plans for a takeaway food kiosk at a former lifeboat store in Tenby’s seaside harbour, despite planning officers recommending the scheme for approval.

Last March, members of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority development management committee rejected proposals to site a takeaway food kiosk at the former RNLI lifeboat store at Penniless Cove, Tenby Harbour.

The application, submitted by Ruby Goodrick, sought permission to convert the old store into a takeaway cold food outlet operating seven days a week from 10:00am to 10:00pm.

The scheme came before councillors rather than being determined under delegated powers after Tenby Town Council objected to the proposal.

Despite the objection, planning officers recommended the scheme for approval, even though it represented a departure from the adopted development plan.

An officer report said: “Whilst it is acknowledged that the proposed use would introduce a retail element to this area of the harbour, on balance officers consider that no significant harm would be caused to the character of Tenby Harbour as a result of this development.

“The use proposed occupies a relatively small floor area and would not be a destination in and of itself. Rather, it would rely on the existing footfall within the harbour.”

Speaking at the meeting in March (2025), Alistair McKay, representing Tenby Sailing Club, warned the proposal could create potential conflicts with other harbour users.

The applicant told councillors she was “more than happy” to adjust the proposed opening hours. Ms Goodrick said the business would build on the success of her mother’s former sandwich shop in the town, Truly Scrumptious.

The proposed outlet, called Truly@The Harbour, would “contribute positively to the local economy,” she said.

However, committee members raised concerns including congestion in the harbour area and the handling of waste.

Members eventually voted by 12 votes to three to refuse the application.

The applicant has now lodged an appeal with Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW).

In a statement supporting the appeal, Ms Goodrick said: “The proposal is modest in scale, does not harm the retail hierarchy, is in close proximity to the town centre, and has received no objections from the majority of the statutory consultees.”

The appeal statement adds that the refusal was based on the kiosk being outside the defined town centre boundary.

However, it argues that the building is located only around 25 metres outside the retail centre boundary and would otherwise represent a use considered acceptable within the town centre.