Local Government

Unresolved building control record leaves buyer’s cottage unregistered

Published

2 months ago

April 23, 2026

HM Land Registry cancelled application after purchase of Wiston property as conveyancer points to possible seller misrepresentation

A PEMBROKESHIRE homebuyer was left unregistered as owner of his cottage months after completing the purchase while a historic building control application remained live and incomplete, Pembrokeshire County Council has confirmed.

Wayne Davies bought Kingfisher Cottage, Three Ways, Wiston, on December 17, 2024, for £158,000. But HM Land Registry later cancelled the registration application linked to the purchase, leaving him in limbo while questions mounted over historic building control issues, the presence of a log burner shown in marketing particulars, and what was disclosed during the sale.

The council has now confirmed that building regulations application BR/0735/04 relating to Three Ways, Wiston remains a live application and was never completed.

In a statement to The Herald, Pembrokeshire County Council said the application was “not complete” and confirmed that its records showed the development was incomplete at the time of the sale.

A Pembrokeshire County Council spokesperson said: “Yes – our records historically would show and still shows that the development is incomplete and awaiting completion, this requires the client to contact building control for final inspection for sign off which then follows the formal completion certificate for the development.”

The council also confirmed that the original application was made for “Three Ways Wiston, the now known Kingfisher Cottage,” and that it related to a holiday let.

They added: “It has come to our attention that the building is now being used as a residential home. We have been in contact with the current owner to establish whether the conditions have been met and if a completion certificate can be issued.”

The council also were insistent on saying that responsibility for compliance with Building Regulations rests solely with the owner, “in line with duty holder responsibilities”.

No completion certificate

Documents seen by The Herald include a conditional approval of building plans dated April 22, 2005, relating to the provision of a holiday accommodation unit at Three Ways, Wiston.

That approval included a condition under Part J covering combustion appliances and fuel storage systems, requiring details of any proposed combustion appliance and associated works to be submitted and approved before commencement.

The council said no completion certificate had ever been issued and confirmed no formal enforcement action or notice had been taken.

The case only came to light after Mr Davies made enquiries following concerns relating to a log burner at the property.

Sales particulars seen by The Herald showed the log burner in place and referred to it in the property description.

However, Cardiff-based Gateway 2 Conveyancing, which acted for Mr Davies in the purchase, later stated that it had not received the sale particulars and had therefore been unaware there was a log burner in the property.

In a formal complaint response sent to Mr Davies and seen by The Herald, Robert Dudden, Financial and Compliance Director at Gateway 2, said the firm had requested the sales particulars from the estate agent but did not receive them.

He wrote that Gateway instead carried out an online search and found older rental particulars, which did not mention a log burner and did not make its presence clear from the photographs.

Mr Dudden said the firm had relied on the seller’s TA6 and TA10 forms, which he said now appeared inaccurate in light of what had since come to light.

He said the seller had answered “no” to questions relating to building works, unfinished works, breaches of planning permission or building regulations conditions, guarantees and warranties, and electrical installation matters.

Gateway also said the TA10 fixtures and fittings form made no reference to any free-standing heater, stove fuel, oil, wood or LPG.

Possible seller misrepresentation

In the complaint response, Mr Dudden stated: “It would appear that the information contained in TA6 and TA10 was not accurate from the seller in light of the information now known.”

He continued: “It would appear that there maybe misrepresentation from the seller and we advise you to take advice from a litigation solicitor.”

Gateway said it was unable to uphold Mr Davies’ complaint against the firm, maintaining that it had undertaken the expected enquiries based on the documents and responses it received.

The firm said the historic planning and building control issues were linked to the wider address of Three Ways rather than clearly to Kingfisher Cottage, and said the local authority search report did not reveal the problem in the way it later emerged.

Gateway also said it had made enquiries with the seller’s solicitors about the entries shown on the local authority search, and had been told that the conditions and requirements had been met.

Mr Dudden said the firm was continuing to assist with registration of the property and had recently received contact from the seller’s solicitors.

Land Registry cancellation

The Herald has seen correspondence from HM Land Registry confirming that the original application was cancelled on April 1, 2026.

In a further update sent to Mr Davies, Land Registry said the cancelled application had also led to cancellation of the newly created title linked to the transfer.

Land Registry also confirmed that Gateway 2 had lodged an Official Search on April 1, 2026, giving a priority period until May 15, 2026, and stating that it was now in Mr Davies’ interest for a fresh transfer application to be lodged before that date.

Mr Davies says he has also been contacted by his mortgage lender and told that no mortgage charge has yet been registered because the property has still not been registered in his name.

Estate agent and solicitors

The Herald has previously seen correspondence from Popular Move stating that the issues raised by Mr Davies should have been picked up during the conveyancing process. The agent also indicated that sales particulars showing the log burner had been supplied.

Price & Son Solicitors declined to comment. In an email to The Herald, the firm said: “We do not discuss with the Press whom we act for nor the business affairs of those we do represent.”

Gateway 2 also declined to comment directly to The Herald on the specifics of the case, citing client confidentiality and data protection, but its position is set out in the complaint response later provided by Mr Davies.

Questions remain

The dispute raises a number of serious questions, including whether the unresolved building control position should have been more clearly identified before the sale completed, whether the seller’s replies accurately reflected the true position, and whether the registration failure could have wider consequences for both the buyer and his mortgage lender.

For Mr Davies, the situation remains unresolved more than a year after he instructed solicitors to handle the purchase.

He alleges he has been left fighting on several fronts at once: trying to secure legal title to the property, resolve the building control position, and establish who is responsible for the omissions that have now come to light.

Health

Poor housing putting pressure on NHS, Welsh Government admits

Published

10 hours ago

June 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Ministers say unsuitable homes are worsening health and contributing to delayed hospital discharges across Wales

POOR or unsuitable housing is directly affecting people’s health and placing additional strain on NHS services in Wales, the Welsh Government has admitted, following the publication of a major new report warning of the growing health impacts of inadequate homes.

The warning comes in a new report by the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), which argues that poor housing is worsening physical and mental health, increasing hospital readmissions and adding avoidable pressure to health and social care services.

The report says millions of people across the UK are living in homes that fail to meet their needs, with problems ranging from damp and poor accessibility to unsuitable living environments for older people and those with disabilities or long-term health conditions.

The Welsh Government acknowledged the issue when asked for comment by The Pembrokeshire Herald.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Poor or unsuitable housing directly impacts people’s health and places additional pressure on NHS services.

“Delayed discharges linked to unsuitable housing are a serious concern and we are taking steps to improve patient flow and reduce delays, strengthening joint working between health, social care and housing services so people can leave hospital safely.

“This Welsh Government has been clear that housing is a public health issue, which is why we are aligning action across government, including through dedicated ministerial oversight, to create a healthier population.

“We are also strengthening adaptation services to support independent living and prevent avoidable admissions and are establishing a new national development body to speed up delivery of accessible social homes.”

The RCOT report argues there is little point discharging patients from hospital if they are returning to homes that worsen their condition or fail to meet their needs. It also highlights growing concerns around delayed hospital discharges, accessibility and an ageing population.

In west Wales, Hywel Dda University Health Board said housing and wider living conditions have a significant effect on health outcomes.

James Severs, Executive Director of Allied Health Professions and Health Science at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “Most of what determines our health and well-being sits beyond the NHS. While healthcare is vital, it is the conditions in which people live, learn, work and age that have the greatest impact on health outcomes. As a Health Board, we recognise that the NHS contributes only a proportion of overall population health, with wider factors such as housing, education, employment and the environment playing a much larger role.

“This is why our strategy for ‘A Healthier Mid and West Wales’ is focused on moving beyond an illness-centred model of care to one that prioritises prevention, early intervention and support in communities. We are committed to working in partnership with local authorities, the third sector and our communities to address these wider determinants of health, reduce inequalities and enable people to live healthier lives, well lived.”

The report states that almost half of adults in Wales are already living with long-term health conditions and warns that failing to address poor housing could place increasing pressure on already stretched services.

The Pembrokeshire Herald has approached Pembrokeshire County Council for comment.

Local Government

Have your say on well-being in Pembrokeshire

Published

20 hours ago

June 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

RESIDENTS are being asked to help shape the future of well-being in Pembrokeshire.

Pembrokeshire Public Services Board has launched its third Well-being Assessment and wants to hear from people who live or work in the county.

The assessment looks at what matters most to local communities, including issues affecting people’s quality of life now and in the years ahead.

It is a legal requirement under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

The findings will help the Public Services Board decide what action is needed to improve well-being across Pembrokeshire.

The survey opened on Monday (Jun 1) and runs until Saturday, August 8, 2026.

It is being carried out jointly with Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.

Residents can take part online at: https://online1.snapsurveys.com/Well-being_Assessment_2026

Photo caption: Have your say: Residents are being asked to help shape future well-being plans in Pembrokeshire.

Local Government

Ombudsman clears Woodham over Imperial Hall complaint

Published

22 hours ago

June 10, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Decision finds ‘no evidence’ of code breach as fallout continues from Dennison suspension

THE PUBLIC SERVICES OMBUDSMAN FOR WALES has concluded there is “no evidence” that Cllr Guy Woodham breached the Members’ Code of Conduct in relation to the long-running Imperial Hall planning dispute in Milford Haven.

The decision, issued on Wednesday (June 10), brings to an end a complaint made by Imperial Hall director Lee Bridges following the controversial Planning Delegation Panel meeting which considered whether the venue’s retrospective planning application should be referred to Pembrokeshire County Council’s Planning Committee.

***Suspended: Councillor Alan Dennison***

The ruling lands less than two weeks after Milford Haven councillor Alan Dennison was suspended for four months by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Standards Committee over his involvement in the same planning matter.

Complaint dismissed

The Ombudsman investigated allegations that Cllr Woodham had failed to declare personal and prejudicial interests while acting as Chair of the Planning Delegation Panel meeting on February 25, 2025.

The complaint also alleged Cllr Woodham had improperly used his position while participating in the panel’s consideration of whether the Imperial Hall application should be referred to councillors for determination.

However, after reviewing evidence, interviewing witnesses and viewing the webcast of the meeting, the Ombudsman concluded there was no evidence of wrongdoing.

The decision notice states: “The evidence did not suggest that the Member had a personal or prejudicial interest.”

It added there was no evidence the decision could reasonably be regarded as affecting Cllr Woodham’s wellbeing or financial position, or that of someone with whom he had a close personal association.

The Ombudsman therefore decided there was “no evidence of a breach of the Code.”

Why the complaint was made

The complaint had been made by Mr Bridges following the Planning Delegation Panel meeting, during which councillors declined a request to refer the Imperial Hall planning application to committee.

Mr Bridges had argued there were potential conflicts involving Cllr Woodham linked to community venues in Milford Haven and alleged competing interests connected to the local events sector.

Those concerns later formed part of wider criticism voiced publicly by both Mr Bridges and Cllr Dennison.

Last week, following the Standards Committee ruling against him, Cllr Dennison claimed Cllr Woodham had chaired the panel “with full awareness of the potential repercussions” for Mr Bridges’ business and alleged competing interests had not been properly declared.

Ombudsman draws distinction

The Ombudsman’s findings appear to draw a clear distinction between the Woodham complaint and the circumstances which led to the sanction against Cllr Dennison.

In Cllr Dennison’s case, the Standards Committee concluded he had personal and prejudicial interests arising from a combination of factors, including his previous directorship of Imperial Hall Limited, a financial loan to the business during Covid, involvement with the Masonic Hall company, social links with Mr Bridges and prior advice from the Monitoring Officer warning him not to become involved.

The committee found Cllr Dennison had acted as an “advocate and champion” for the application by drafting and signing paperwork to seek committee determination on behalf of local member Cllr Terry Davies.

By contrast, the Ombudsman concluded the evidence in the Woodham matter did not establish either a sufficiently close personal association or a financial or personal interest requiring declaration.

Bridges sought consistency

Only days before the Ombudsman’s decision, Mr Bridges had written to the Ombudsman questioning whether his complaint concerning Cllr Woodham was being afforded the same level of scrutiny as the Dennison case.

***Manager of The Imperial Hall: Lee Bridges***

He argued that allegations involving participation in decision-making processes should be treated consistently.

In response, the Ombudsman told Mr Bridges that all complaints are assessed under the same two-stage process and determined on their own merits.

The decision notice issued today confirms the Ombudsman has now completed that assessment and found no breach.

Wider fallout continues

The Imperial Hall planning dispute has become one of the most politically charged local controversies in Milford Haven in recent years.

The original dispute concerned retrospective engineering works linked to an external dining area at the Hamilton Terrace venue.

Planning officers ultimately refused the application, while a later appeal to Welsh Government inspectors was unsuccessful.

Cllr Dennison has vowed to appeal his four-month suspension, insisting he did nothing wrong and arguing he merely signed paperwork “pp” on behalf of Cllr Terry Davies after being asked to assist.

Speaking after the Standards Committee hearing, he described the process as unfair and politically motivated.

Pembrokeshire County Council and Cllr Guy Woodham have been contacted for comment.