The future of Narberth’s former primary school has taken a step forward this week.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s cabinet meeting have agreed that a Narberth Consortium be appointed as the preferred developer.

The reason for the decision is to facilitate the delivery of an important town centre regeneration scheme in accordance with the council’s key corporate objectives, and to generate a capital receipt from the disposal of a surplus asset.

Members also agreed that the final terms and conditions relating to the disposal be delegated to the director of development in conjunction with the leader/cabinet member and that the state aid implications be noted and that the transaction is subject to those being satisfactorily dealt with be also noted.

The decision was subject to the standard three-day call-in period.

Local County Councillor, Vic Dennis was delighted with the news.

He said: “This is a major step towards the delivery of what Narberth and its community wants and needs. This site was a functional and much loved school, in its day, but it has become an eyesore.

“I was voted in on May 4, along with the new administration at the council. It did not take much persuasion from me to make my priority, one of theirs also. The property has been marketed through a national agent and was assessed against the criteria of visual amenity, adding to the retail strength and variety of the town centre whilst maximising site value.

“A public engagement event was also held, this time last year, to gain the views of the community and those views have been reflected in the decision of the cabinet.

“I am grateful for all the hard work that the council officers have put in to enable us to get this far since we have been in office.

“I will now be keen to fully understand the proposals and assist, where I can, the local consortium that has been appointed as the preferred developer.”