AN AMENDED scheme for a children’s care home on the edge of Fishguard has been approved after a previous call was refused.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Martin Leahy of Ty Caredig Ltd sought a certificate of lawfulness permission for the use of a dwellinghouse to a residential care home for up to two children at Bryn Delyn, Y Fraich, Fishguard.

Last November, a similar call to allow Bryn Delyn to be used as a children’s home, which raised fears from local objectors the scheme was being ‘rubber stamped’ by the council, was refused.

In that application to the council, Cardiff-based Ty Caredig Ltd sought permission for a Certificate of Lawfulness on the basis the use was not materially different from the property’s existing lawful use.

Residents had accused the council of “pushing through a highly controversial children’s home application behind closed doors”.

A supporting statement for that scheme, with many redacted parts, said the four-bed property had a lawful use as a dwelling house; saying the use as a care home did not require planning permission through a change of use.

However, planners said the use of the dwelling as a care home “would represent a material change of use requiring the benefit of planning permission”.

Since then, amendment to the scheme, for a lawful change of use was submitted, a supporting statement saying Ty Caredig Ltd operates homes throughout Wales that provide specialist care for children, the latest scheme “seeks formal confirmation that the proposed use of Bryn Delyn as a children’s care home for up to two children (plus care staff) would not require planning permission”.

Fishguard Town Council objected, on the grounds of highway safety and parking issues.

It also raised points of “apparent discrepancies between the planning application and the information available on the website,” but stressed it did support provision of suitable accommodation for vulnerable young people and children “with the correct infrastructure in place”.

Local county councillor Cllr Par Davies has said the scheme has her “full support,” as did the certificate call, adding: “Rumours abound regarding this application with objections concerning the usage of the property as a care home for young people. The application states that only two young people would be cared for in the property.

“This type of property is needed as we often talk as councillors for the need for Pembrokeshire children in care to remain in Pembrokeshire instead of the alternative of moving them to other areas in the country and this application fulfils that need.”

The application was approved by planners, the approval stating “Based on the information submitted and on the balance of probability it is considered that the use of the property as a residential care home for up to two children would not result in a material change of use from the lawful use of the property as a dwellinghouse and as a result a certificate of lawfulness for a proposed use should be granted.”

A CALL to keep the use of a first floor of a rural Pembrokeshire pub which has been used as a dwelling for decades has been submitted to county planners.

In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council Gareth Evans has applied for a certificate of lawful development at The Old Inn, Crow Hill to Folly, Camrose, near Haverfordwest to confirm an existing use of the first floor of Ye Olde Inn as a self-contained residential dwelling.

An application for a certificate of lawfulness allows an applicant to keep a development if they can provide proof of occupancy over a prolonged period.

In his application, Mr Evans says the first floor of the Old Inn has “operated as a self-contained residential flat for many decades, with its own independent external access via external stairs, separate kitchen, bathroom, living accommodation and bedrooms,” adding: “The use is long-established, has been supported by multiple planning permissions, and has been formally recognised through separate council tax assessment for a significant period.”

He adds: “On the balance of probabilities, the combination of historic planning permissions expressly authorising extensions to living accommodation, together with Valuation Office Agency and council tax records, demonstrates that the first floor has been in continuous use as a self-contained dwelling for well in excess of four decades.”

A supporting statement says historic planning permissions at Ye Old Inn were granted, in 1975, for alterations and extensions which included first-floor residential accommodation including bedrooms; a 1978 application for “extensions to living accommodation and provision of bottle store,” a further 1979 permission, and a 1992 application for “extension to dwelling and public house” which the applicant says “expressly include extension to the dwelling (residential element), with detailed first-floor residential layouts shown”.

It goes on to say: “The applicant purchased the property in January 2023 and therefore does not possess all historic ownership records. Accordingly, reliance is placed upon the council’s own archive records, together with VOA and rating records, as independent evidence of the long-established residential use.

“These permissions demonstrate that the residential use of the first floor has been formally recognised and extended through the planning system over many decades. The use has therefore been lawful for well in excess of 10 years.”

It says the flat had its own council tax band from April 2005 until it was formally deleted with effect from January 2023 following a VOA agreement after fire safety modernisation works were carried out to bring the property into compliance with current regulations.

The lawfulness call application will be considered by county planners at a later date.

INSOLVENCY figures fell in May, but businesses across Wales remain under serious financial pressure, according to restructuring specialists.

Official figures show there were 1,868 corporate insolvencies in May 2026, down 10.5% from April and 16.3% lower than in May last year.

Andy McGill, restructuring and insolvency partner at Azets, which has offices in Cardiff, Swansea and St Asaph, said the fall was welcome but should not be mistaken for a sign that firms are out of difficulty.

He said: “Directors running out of fight, firepower and finance is still a problem, and creditors remain willing to turn to the courts to recover monies owed — and neither of these are going to change in the short term.

“The reality is that despite the fall in insolvencies compared to last month and last May, numbers are still high and businesses are still struggling, with many facing an uncertain future.”

Mr McGill said firms were being hit by a combination of geopolitical uncertainty, rising costs, political instability, a lack of affordable finance and creditors chasing overdue debts.

He added: “Unless the climate becomes easier and some way is found of lightening the cost load on businesses, it’s likely demand for advice and support will remain high in the coming weeks and months.”

Cost pressures continue

BUSINESSES are also facing rising employment costs, higher business rates and renewed pressure from energy bills.

Mr McGill said many firms were being “sandwiched” between their own higher costs and customers cutting back on spending.

He said the hospitality, retail and construction sectors remained among the hardest hit.

He added: “The fact that several household names have entered restructuring or insolvency processes recently shows the strain on the restaurant sector is becoming unbearable as the double blow of increased expenses and cautious consumers continues to affect it.

“Despite a rise in footfall and sales, retailers continue to be crushed by costs.”

He also pointed to the planned restructuring of TG Jones as evidence that even long-established high street names were not immune from financial distress.

Construction firms under strain

THE construction industry continues to face pressure from rising labour costs, higher material prices and late payment.

Mr McGill said tight margins and cashflow difficulties were pushing more firms towards financial distress.

He said: “Our advice to anyone who is worried about their business is to pick up the phone and speak to an adviser.

“It’s incredibly hard to voice your concerns about your finances, but the earlier you do, the more potential solutions you have open to you and the more time you have to consider how you move forward.”