Plans to build a new housing development in Manorbier, with the provision of 23 affordable homes have been turned down this week, with concerns raised of over development in the area.

The application which was submitted by Mr. Sam Stalbow, of the Pembrokeshire Housing Association, proposing the erection of 23 affordable homes with associated access, parking, landscaping and engineering works, at Station Road, came before members of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s development management committee at a meeting held on Wednesday morning, after they had previously deferred a decision on the proposals to hold a site meeting.

The proposed development for the construction of 23 affordable dwellings, comprising - one three-bedroomed bungalow, four two-bedroomed bungalows, eight two-bedroomed houses, two three-bedroomed houses, and eight one-bedroomed flats (set out in two blocks), would be arranged around a new estate road with turning facilities, provided via the existing access off Station Road.

Also proposed as part of the application is an area of amenity space to the north of the site, a pumping station, along with boundary treatments.

Manorbier Community Council’s chair Clr. Ray Hughes told the meeting that they were ‘deeply concerned’ over the road safety aspect near to the school site.

He said that as the proposed development was entirely made up of affordable homes, it would present a ‘totally unbalanced’ scheme in that area.

The community council also raised concerns that there were no shop amenities in the locality, and transport links were poor, with the proposed development situated between the settlements of Jameston and Manorbier.

Committee member Clr. Phil Kidney, echoed these sentiments when he addressed the meeting: “You won’t be surprised that my views haven’t changed since the last meeting. This is an awful spot for such a development,” he said.

“It is an area that is not related to either Jameston or Manorbier or anywhere! If any one can convince me that this is related to either village, then I’d like to hear it!

“The transport links are not particularly good, and you’d have to take your life in your own hands to walk half a mile to the train station.

“A development like this will not necessarily safeguard the school either, as a recent similar development in St Florence has proved.

“This would have a huge impact on a lovely small area. We have a duty of care to locals and I don’t think this is serving anyone well if we approve this development.

“The community council are against it - they know what’s going on, and this is not a good thing for this area,” continued Clr. Kidney.

Fellow committee member Ted Sangster disagreed and said he would support the application, after attending the site visit.

“I’d be in favour of supporting the proposal on the basis of the need for affordable housing.

“The head of the school and the chair of governors present at the site meeting said that this could help secure the future of the school.

“Pembrokeshire County Council’s highways department have no concerns over transport issues, and every school as we know gets busy at drop off and pick up times.

“I don’t see this development as out of keeping from what I’ve seen,” he added.

When put to the vote seven members voted in favour of the proposals and seven against, leaving a casting vote to the committee’s chair Clr. Reg Owens, who elected to go against the planing officer’s recommendation and vote against the scheme.

PCNPA director of park direction and planning, Jane Gibson told the committee that as they had gone against planning officer’s recommendations and against all of the authority’s policies in refusing the application, the matter would have to go through a ‘cooling off’ period before being brought back to the next meeting.

She advised committee members to put forward strong evidence as to why they are recommending refusal for the application, should it go to an appeal.