PLANS to expand facilities at a Pembrokeshire camping and glamping farm which hosts outdoor festivals have been given the go-ahead by Pembrokeshire County Council.

Dewslake Camping Limited, of Dewslake Farm, The Ridgeway, Lamphey, in an application through agent Argent Architects, sought permission for a change of use of the main barn at the farm to provide support facilities for camping and events.

The application was recommended for approval at the June 30 meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee.

A supporting statement accompanying the application said: “While remaining a working farm, camping, glamping and facilities for dining and refreshments are among the services provided. Outdoor festivals are held on the site periodically during the summer season.

“The main barn is centrally located within the farm and serves as overflow storage for the various activities and events offered at Dewslake.  The campsite’s sanitary facilities are located in temporary structures at the perimeter of this building.

“The applicant wishes to expand the facilities offered on the site. The barn has the spatial capacity to accommodate a range of different events, both commercial and private. The idea is to bring in the operational capacity to service functions and events in the building and on the wider site, in the form of overflow catering, sanitary facilities and office and reception space.”

It says it is intended to create “a building that is inclusive, easy and enjoyable in use for all,” with wheelchair parking in the area currently occupied by the temporary facilities.

It says further expansions to Dewslake are also planned.

“The growing business model requires considerable on-site management and maintenance.  The long-term plan is greatly invested in ecological enhancements and trades on this in the marketing approach taken in promoting the campsite.

“This approach requires a particular intensity in the management of the land, which when coupled with the day-to-day running of the campsite, increases the need for a round-the-clock management presence.

“The applicant is therefore intending to make a separate pre-application enquiry for the addition of a permanent farmhouse to serve this function.”

An officer report for planners said: “The proposal involves the comprehensive internal reconfiguration of the building and associated external alterations. The footprint of the existing structure would be largely retained, with development primarily focused on enclosing and extending into an existing open lean-to section along the building’s side (west) elevation.”

Approval was moved by Cllr Alec Cormack, described it as “an excellent use of the building,” with vice-chair of the committee Cllr Simon Hancock describing it as an “excellent application,” which was “entirely appropriate in the site”.

The application for conditional approval was unanimously approved by committee members.

Engineering, fintech and beauty brands feature in national growth rankings

THREE Welsh businesses have been named among Britain’s 100 fastest-growing companies, highlighting the growing diversity of Wales’ scale-up economy.

Avantis Group, an engineering business delivering marine and offshore energy upgrade projects, was the highest-ranked Welsh company in the ORESA Executive Search Growth Index 2026.

The company placed 43rd nationally after achieving two-year compound annual revenue growth of 105.9%.

It was joined on the list by fintech firm ANNA Money, ranked 56th, and fast-growing beauty brand Hair Syrup, ranked 67th.

Orlando Martins, founder of Growth Index, said the results showed the strength and breadth of Wales’ business community.

He said: “Wales continues to produce ambitious companies across a wide range of sectors.

“What is particularly encouraging is the range of businesses, both in the top 100 and among the companies that narrowly missed out, from engineering and fintech to consumer brands.”

Now in its fifth year, the ORESA Executive Search Growth Index ranks the 100 fastest-growing companies in the UK.

This year’s list points to the resilience of Britain’s scale-up economy, with the average company achieving compound annual revenue growth of 136.1% over two years.

Together, the Growth Index 100 generated more than £11 billion in annual revenues, with businesses on the list ranging from data centres and art galleries to GB News and Popeyes UK.

Financial services remained the largest sector represented, accounting for a quarter of all companies featured.

Healthcare also continued to rise, helped by strong performances from biotechnology businesses, while retail enjoyed a resurgence after several more difficult years.

The report also notes that pure-play AI businesses are beginning to make a visible impact on the rankings, although they have not yet come to dominate the list.

The Growth Index is compiled through independent analysis of Companies House data. Growth is measured by two-year compound annual growth rate in revenues, with companies required to have a minimum base-year turnover of £100,000 and a minimum final-year turnover of £5 million.

PEMBROKESHIRE-BASED Ascona Group has completed the acquisition of Truckhaven (Carnforth) Ltd, a major trunk road services area in Lancashire.

The deal expands Ascona’s national portfolio to 70 sites and strengthens the group’s position in the UK roadside retail and services sector.

Truckhaven is located at Junction 35 of the M6 and has long been regarded as an important stopping point for the commercial transport industry and travelling public.

The 17-acre site includes an Esso-branded filling station, a detached 24-hour forecourt retail shop, overnight parking for 245 lorries, and an amenity building with a restaurant, showers, retail shop, licensed bar and launderette.

The site also includes a 26-bedroom en-suite hotel, providing accommodation and respite for drivers and other customers.

Darren Briggs, founder and CEO of Ascona Group, said: “We are delighted to complete the acquisition of Truckhaven.

“This is an exciting addition to our growing portfolio and reflects our confidence in the long-term opportunities within the UK roadside services market.

“Our ambition is to build on Truckhaven’s strong reputation by investing in the site, enhancing the customer retail experience, and creating a first-class destination for drivers and visitors alike.

“We have ambitious plans for the site. We intend to improve the forecourt facilities with a brand-new retail shop offering, and for HGV drivers, a brand-new state-of-the-art truck wash in the coming months.”

Ascona Group has become one of the UK’s most acquisitive independent forecourt operators, with continued investment across fuel retail, convenience, food-to-go and roadside services.

The acquisition of Truckhaven further broadens the group’s presence in a strategically important part of the market.

Michael Jelley, of Stonplan, who originally developed the Truckhaven site at Carnforth in the early 1990s, said: “We are confident that Ascona are the right people to take the site forward as the industry develops.

“They inherit a robust business that has prioritised the provision of high-quality facilities for the haulage industry, along with an outstanding operational team.”

Ascona Group said it continues to evaluate further acquisition opportunities across the UK as it pursues its long-term vision of building one of the country’s leading independent roadside retail and services businesses.

Legal work was undertaken by Simmons & Simmons for Ascona Group and Keystone Law for Truckhaven (Carnforth) Ltd.