A RETROSPECTIVE scheme for an outside dining area on a listed building in the most prominent street in Milford Haven’s conservation area, brought before planners after potential enforcement action was started, has been refused once again.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Lee Bridges sought retrospective permission for works to provide an external dining area at the Grade-II-listed Masonic Hall, Imperial Function Centre, Hamilton Terrace, Milford Haven, the works having started in May 2021.

The application was supported by Milford Haven Town Council, but objections had been raised by the council’s Head of Infrastructure and Historic Buildings Conservation Officer, along with three letters of objection from the public.

The scheme was indirectly brought before planners after an enforcement investigation was started in July 2021 to look into a breach of conditions of a previously approved scheme for a new external door to provide an external dining area, an officer report saying the development was not being carried out in accordance with the previously approved plans.

That led to a 2023 application as a form of regularisation, broadly similar to the current one, which was refused in late 2024.

An officer report recommending refusal for the current scheme says submitted plans “are not an accurate illustration of the ‘as built development’”.

It added: “This application seeks to regularise the proposal, however, it does not address all the reasons for refusal as set out within [the previously refused] planning application,” going on to say: “In respect of environmental impacts, the visual impact of the proposed development harms the setting of the Masonic Hall, a Grade-II-listed building. The proposal also fails to preserve or enhance the character and appearance of the Conservation Area.”

Objections from the public, two from the same person, raised concerns including impact on residential amenity, and the conservation area, and not addressing issues raised in the enforcement notice.

The officer report concluded: “It is considered that the application would not comply with the policies of the Pembrokeshire Local Development Plan.  The proposal fails to have special regard to preserving or enhancing the historic environment, therefore does not comply with the duty under The Historic Environment (Wales) Act 2023 and planning permission shall be refused.”

The scheme was refused on grounds including “a harmful visual impact on the character and appearance of the listed building and this part of the Milford Haven Conservation Area,” the development being of an unacceptable design, and the lack of a Green Infrastructure Statement.

Back in February, a call for the scheme to be decided by councillors rather than planning officers was narrowly turned down, after the committee’s chair cast a second vote.

Members voted three in favour of it being decided by committee, and three against; chair Cllr Guy Woodham casting a second vote in the event of a tie, again voting against the call, meaning it was later decided by officers.