Plans to transform a former hotel overlooking Tenby’s South Beach into private flats, have been given the thumbs up by local councillors.

William Lloyd Davies, director of property development consultants Arbenigol acting on behalf of applicants Kinloch Court Investments Ltd, met with members of Tenby Town Council ahead of their meeting last week, to present plans showing modifications and extensions to the former Kinloch Court hotel building, on Battery Road, which they are developing to provide 14 private flats, complete with car parking spaces on site.

Mr. Davies said that the architects had worked closely with building conservation officer Rob Scourfield at the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, who was quite keen to build a scheme around the frontage of the existing building, which dated back to the 1890s

The new design would be influenced by 1930s style Art Deco, Mr. Davies told councillors at the presentation.

“I also wanted to take this as an opportunity to allay people’s fears, as some had heard apparently that we were looking to build an eight-storey style block there, but that’s not the case, as the general footprint is not much bigger than what’s there already,” he said.

“The views from the corner of the South Beach are quite fantastic, and we see the development as being ‘high end’ flats,” continued Mr. Davies.

The development split the views of councillors, with Clr. Dr Peter Easy stating that the scheme improved what was a ‘worn out building’, while Clr. Will Rossiter felt that the design was not ‘worthy’ in such an important position in Tenby.

When discussing the application later in their meeting, councillors recommended approval of the plans.

Clr. Lawrence Blackhall asked that the following conditions be attached when approving the plans: the flats are required to be permanent residences (not holiday lets); that any affordable housing units agreed (off site) are situated in Tenby itself, as the need for affordable family homes in the town is so great; and that a section 106 agreement be made for the provision of recreational open spaces.