An application to scrap affordable housing plans at a major Haverfordwest development have been withdrawn from today’s (October 5) planning committee.

Pembrokeshire County Councillors were due to discuss Conygar’s application to vary Section 106 agreements made when a housing development of more than 700 homes was approved in 2014, along with reserved matters for 115 houses approved in 2019.

It includes the provision of 25 per cent affordable housing that Conygar is now saying would make the development “unviable.”

Committee chairman Clr. Jacob Williams said he learnt of the application’s withdrawal by head of planning David Popplewell just before the meeting, adding he had expressed his intention to call for its deferral until further information on the District Valuer’s report and evidence from Conygar was provided to members.

Mr. Popplewell told the committee he had withdrawn the variation application, which could be dealt with under delegated powers, because “on reflection” it would be appropriate for councillors to be provided with the viability assessment report so “members have access to the information that has informed our recommendation.”

A number of councillors raised concerns about the application, that could have been dealt with under the scheme of delegation but brought to committee at the discretion of the department due to the “significance of the development.”

Clr. Jonathan Preston said it was not satisfactory that potentially more than 100 affordable homes could be lost without discussion under planning regulations while Clr. Tony Wilcox added there was potential for a “reasonably sized village to be added to Haverfordwest with little or no recompense or affordable housing.”

Haverfordwest councillor Tim Evans said he had been contacted by many people “jumping in anger” about the proposal and Clr. Mark Carter raised his concern about the loss of “180 odd” when affordable housing was needed for local people.

“We need to make the right decision here and have all the facts in front of us,” he said, calling on a District Valuer representative to be asked to the next committee.