AN APPLICATION to demolish a Pembrokeshire storage building, replacing it with a new build holiday let has been granted, after a previous scheme for its conversion was refused, only being allowed on appeal.

In the application to Pembrokeshire County Council, K & M Ferney, through agent James Dwyer Associates, sought permission to replace the building with a new holiday let at Chronicle Park, Parsonage Lane, Begelly.

The initial 2021 application for a change of use was refused by county planners but allowed on appeal in late 2022.

A supporting statement said: “The planning inspector, in their decision, confirmed the proposal to convert a storage building into a holiday let, including an increase in the height of the building and the addition of a porch, met the local planning authority’s policies and should be allowed.

“In short, the proposal was acceptable in principle as well as in relation to its effect on the character of the surrounding location.

“Given it is now established that a building for holiday lets of that scale and in that location, is acceptable, it is not unreasonable to seek to ensure that the development is the best it can be in terms of its appearance, outlook, facilities, car parking, and importantly the privacy and enjoyment of those using the holiday let, and those occupying the adjacent dwelling.

“Accordingly, the most practical solution would be to provide a new building of the same scale, as approved, to meet those aims, and in doing so provide a structure that meets the latest environmental and sustainability requirements, rather than the inevitable compromised outcome, in converting an existing building of relatively poor quality.”

An officer report for the latest application, recommending approval, said: “The proposal is to replace an existing storage building located within the curtilage of Chronicle Park which has extant planning permission for a change of use and conversion into a holiday let.

“The new building would also be for holiday use and would have positive social impacts through the provision of additional accommodation on offer within the local vicinity. It would have positive economic benefits by providing an income stream to the applicant, expenditure on building materials and labour during the construction phase and expenditure from tourists within the local economy.”

The application was conditionally approved by county planners.

A CALL to change a mixed-use therapy centre to a children’s care home classification has been submitted to Pembrokeshire planners.

Skybound Therapies Ltd, through agent Carl Bentley Architectural Services, seeks permission for the change of use of the Skybound Care Farm & Therapy Centre, Campbell Farm, Wiston, near Haverfordwest.

A supporting statement says: “Situated in a discrete rural setting in Pembrokeshire, the Therapy Centre is at the heart of a family-owned Care Farm. It is a working beef and forestry farm, providing a unique and tranquil environment for their services,” adding: “Skybound Care Farm offers a variety of services for both children and young adults. From young adult day opportunities to week-long intensive programmes. The forestry fields provide an ideal setting for practicing walks. Visitors can interact with animals, learn about water safety near their ponds, and immerse themselves in the peaceful beauty of the working farm. Vegetable growing and harvesting is a recent addition to the Care Farm.

“Skybound welcome clients from the local area as well as those travelling from all over the UK and abroad. There is a variety of accommodation types close to the farm and centre, including a holiday village, caravan parks, holiday cottages and log cabins. Many clients like to combine visits to the care farm / therapy centre with exploring local beaches, amenities and attractions.

“The Care Farm HQ and Therapy Centre are in Southwest Wales, but they also cover many locations across the UK, including Cardiff, Newport, Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Yorkshire and Norfolk. Skybound are taking on new locations all of the time.”

It says the original Therapy Centre which was constructed in 2012/13 when it “began its journey as a leading national and international therapy centre providing behaviour analysis, positive behaviour support, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy for children and young adults with special needs and behavioural issues”.

In August 2022 planning permission was granted to extend the therapy centre, completed in 2024; the business currently employs 45 staff on a full time and part time basis, a small number of staff are located at the Care Farm & Therapy Centre and at other locations across Wales and the UK.

“Whilst the centre has been running since February 2024 the applicant and business has found that the use of the centre is changing from previously planned and consented usage,” the statement says.

It says that since then discussions have taken place with council planners to clarify the centre’s current planning use class, along with “other opportunities and ideas for the expansion of the business and services to potentially use other existing buildings at the site are currently being investigated, which will no doubt take further time to consider”.

“There is a long-term plan to expand the Care Farm & Therapy Centre activities within the whole of the site and this full planning application is the third stage of the plan. The long-term plan is to provide more ‘settings’ to provide more training, utilising more of the farm setting for example with further interactions with small farm animals and to perhaps house some therapy sessions within other existing farm buildings to provide different types of training settings.”

Late last year, the site was granted permission to extend staff facilities through a temporary building.

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

PLAID CYMRU leader Rhun ap Iorwerth has accused both the UK and Welsh Labour governments of turning their backs on the people of Port Talbot, calling for urgent investment and a strategy to secure the future of steelmaking in Wales.

During a visit to the town on Tuesday (Apr 15), Mr ap Iorwerth and South Wales West MS Luke Fletcher met with residents and former steelworkers, pledging to stand with what they described as a “betrayed community” following the closure of Tata Steel’s blast furnaces last year.

The visit comes just days after the UK Government announced emergency legislation to rescue the British Steel plant in Scunthorpe—prompting renewed anger in Wales that no such action was taken for Port Talbot.

Mr ap Iorwerth said: “This is a community angry at having been betrayed. The UK Government took action to save jobs in Scunthorpe but left Port Talbot to deal with devastating job losses alone.

“Plaid Cymru will do all we can to fight for the investment needed here. The Labour Government in Westminster must deliver on its so-called enhanced deal and ensure Port Talbot receives its fair share of the UK’s £2.5bn steel fund.”

He added: “It was in the gift of both Labour and the Conservatives to act when it mattered. Now Labour cannot simply dismiss our demands, as they did when we asked for nationalisation to be put on the table. Further inaction is not an option—they owe it to this community.”

Call for urgent Senedd debate

Plaid has written to the Welsh Government’s Trefnydd requesting a formal Senedd debate to examine how the UK Government’s emergency steel measures will impact Wales, and what support will be made available to the communities affected by job losses.

Luke Fletcher MS, Plaid’s spokesperson for Economy and Energy, said there are “serious questions” for the Welsh Labour Government to answer.

“We must hold the Labour Welsh Government to account at the earliest opportunity,” he said. “They must explain what discussions they have had with their UK counterparts, what impact this new legislation will have on the promised Steel Strategy for Wales, and what specific support will be provided to those who lost their livelihoods in Port Talbot.

“The people of this town feel completely let down. There must be a full and open debate in the Senedd, and it must happen urgently.”

Port Talbot’s blast furnaces were shut down in September 2024, resulting in the loss of 2,800 jobs. Tata Steel is now moving toward a greener model using electric arc furnace technology, which will require fewer workers and has left the local community worried about long-term economic decline.