PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL’S Planning and Rights of Way Committee has given its consent to the removal and variation of a number of conditions to allow for a phased development to take place at Fishguard Harbour.

The development at the Harbour would include a marina, residential apartments and retail facilities.

The decision made by Council on Tuesday (May 17), allows for a phased approach of reserved matters and would not result in the loss of planning control.

Cllr Brian Hall said that the development would be a massive asset to Fishguard.

Mr Andrew Patterson said: “The Focus of our written submissions related to Condition 6 for the Phasing Plan and our belief that the detailed Phasing Plan should be submitted and made accessible to the public before any other variation of the conditions was considered.

“Condition 6 had not been included within the application itself – which caused us some disquiet. However, the Director of Development’s report to this Committee outlines the mechanism to be put in place for Condition 6, and the related conditions and we welcome these assurances, and request that they will be clearly stated in any planning approval given.

“We fully endorse the recommendation made in Para 6.11 to the effect that a separate discharge of conditions application for Condition 6 should be submitted to the Local Planning Authority, and we request that it will be consulted in a way similar to the current application.

“Assuming that in principal approval is given to this current application, the assurance that the submission of the Phasing Plan will be the first submission to be made by the applicant against this new planning approval is welcomed.

“However, we are still concerned about certain wording within this current application in relation to overall infrastructure issues.

“The original approval given in 2014 is very unusual. It essentially gave permission for the creation of two new pieces of land – one with outline schemes presented for residential development, and a marina and boat yard; and the second – the Development Platform – whose use will be determined by a future application.

“However the major infrastructure issues such as access onto The Parrog, and for foul water disposal, will be common to both platforms.

“The suggestion in the proposed amendments is that the details for each Phase affecting the first piece of new land, will be developed in accordance with the timetable set out within the Phasing Plan.

“It is therefore essential that access on to the Parrog and other major infrastructure issues are identified within the Phasing Plan as the first of the conditions that needs to be discharged.

“If this is not done, there will be a risk of further civil engineering cost and disruption at some time in the future.

“In relation to civil engineering, we believe that is essential that the discharge of both Condition 13 (Construction Traffic Management Plan)(CTMP) and Condition 15 (Construction Environmental Management Plan)(CEMP) are identified within the Phasing Plan in parallel with the access and infrastructure conditions.

“We believe that the Phasing Plan should include a detailed time-tabled Programme, highlighting the key breakpoints in the delivery, so that progress can be monitored, and also so that critical path decision points can be identified.

“We therefore request a revision to the wording of Condition 6 to ensure that the Phasing Plan includes considerations for both platforms of the full access, and infrastructure considerations, and also the CTMP and the CEMP.

“Once this Phasing Plan and programme has been determined there will be greater transparency of the whole development and its consequences.

“Finally, we believe that the development is reaching a stage when closer engagement and consultation with a group representing local resident and business interests would be useful, and would lead to more informed and productive discussion of the evolving plans.”

Cllr Myles Pepper said: “This is such a large scale and very sensitive application and the director has removed it from the scheme of delegation in light of the sensitive issues raised by the developer.

“This allows for phased submissions and this would not create any loss of planning control and this was a fear that had been expressed locally that things were being done which they had no control over.

“I’m also encouraged by comments from Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council who have no adverse comments.

“The Town Council, and I quote from the report, wishes you to know that they believe there is no danger to the community with regards to the variances and therefore, they have no adverse comments to make with regards to the application as a whole.”

Cllr Pat Davies said: “I have no hesitation in approving these recommendations. This has been a long time coming and there has been huge public consultation. My community welcome this marina.”

Cllr Keith Lewis added that they needed to put a message out to the developer to get them to start the project as soon as possible because the marina was very important to the north of the county.

The application was unanimously approved by councillors.