Demolition work has been underway at Saundersfoot's Coppet Hall Hotel.

The work - to create a new multi-functional building that will contain a restaurant, leisure related retail and activity space in addition to new public conveniences, which will be complemented by the provision of family changing spaces and external beach showers - is 'progressing well' despite the awful weather which has led to very difficult operating conditions.

"We are still on course for completion of the parking area by the late spring," said Jonathan Pickford, of Acanthus Holden Architects of Pembroke, who have designed the scheme on behalf of The Hean Castle Estate.

"Now the old hotel has been demolished, the site looks very different, the mature woodland backdrop is more clearly visible and the charming gatehouse cottage that sits adjacent to the site is now much more prominent."

The development has been carefully designed to allow visitors to enjoy the views from the panoramic windows of the new restaurant stretching across Carmarthen Bay, whilst not compromising its setting in the wooded landscape surrounding Coppet Hall or its Blue Flag beach.

The building will host a number of environmentally friendly features, including solar panels, air source heat pumps and a sedum roof, which will all contribute to its BREEAM 'Excellent' rating, the highest level of environmental rating for new buildings.

The car park is being extensively remodelled to include significant areas of landscaping, together with many pedestrian and family friendly features and the enhancement of the existing excellent footpath and cycle route links. In addition, a new storage area is being created for small sailing craft, to complement those facilities already available at Saundersfoot.

The scheme is part of Visit Wales' Coastal Tourism Project, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government, to encourage tourism along the Welsh coastline.