Housing plan in tiny Welsh village finally gets go-ahead after 5 years
Housing plan in tiny Welsh village finally gets go-ahead after 5 years
Five letters of objection raised concerns including drainage, traffic generation, housing need, flooding and it being a linear development
Hayscastle Cross in Pembrokeshire
(Image: Google )
A housing scheme in a Pembrokeshire village, first proposed five years ago, has finally been given the green light.
An application was submitted for the construction of one dwelling, with additional outline permission for two more on land east of Ty Gwyn in Hayscastle Cross, near Haverfordwest.
The proposal was recommended for approval at the June meeting of Pembrokeshire Council's planning committee, despite being contrary to the authority's development plan, due to a small part of it being outside the settlement boundary.
The scheme includes a contribution to affordable housing, set at 10 per cent of the development value for Hayscastle Cross, amounting to £15,262.50. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here .
Contributions towards affordable housing in the county can range from as low as 5% in Fishguard and Pembroke Dock to as high as 25% in towns like Narberth.
However, the proposal did not go unchallenged, with five letters of objection.
Article continues below
These raised concerns about drainage, traffic generation, housing need, flooding and the linear nature of the development.
Despite these objections, an officer report concluded: "The proposal would result in residential development over a small area of the countryside location in conflict with the requirements [of policies].
"However, the minimal area of land involved and the ability it provides to facilitate development of the site are material considerations which outweigh the identified policy conflicts."
At the meeting, Andrew Vaughan-Harries of Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd expressed his surprise at the lengthy process since the application's submission five years ago, citing "a lot of hurdles" including the Covid-19 pandemic, phosphate concerns, and proximity to a nearby SSSI.
He argued that the development, with its £15,000 contribution to affordable housing, would "enhance this little bit of Haycastle Cross".
Councillor Brian Hall moved the application, while new committee chair Cllr Mark Carter, representing a nearby ward, remarked: "This to me, is just a natural progression of the village which has expanded over the years; it's just joining the rest of the row."
Article continues below
The proposal received unanimous backing from the committee members.
Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here . We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Welsh bakery creating 150 jobs in £47m expansion
Welsh bakery creating 150 jobs in £47m expansion The business is ramping up its production and storage capacity Jones Village bakery Wrexham: chief executive Simon Thorpe and Wrexham councillor Nigel Williams. (Image: Picture Mandy Jones ) Jones Village Bakery is investing £47m to expand its production and storage capacity in a move that will create 150 new jobs. The investment will see a new £20m production line to make bread and rolls at its headquarters site on Wrexham Industrial Estate. When it becomes operational, the 140,000 sq ft bakery in Ash Road will be full to capacity. It is also planning to convert and extend a storage facility that was built on a nearby site of the company's bakery that was destroyed by a devastating fire in 2019. The scheme will see an additional investment of £27m and the new bakery will enable the company to continue to ramp up production. Last year private equity firm Limerston Capital sold its majority stake in the business to French bakery venture Menissez. In financial year to the end of September, 2023, Village Bakery employed 740 with revenues of nearly £100m. Article continues below Wales experiences big rise in foreign direct investment projects READ MORE: Its chief executive Simon Thorpe said: "This is the beginning of yet another new and exciting chapter in the Village Bakery success story. "Our plan is to rise, phoenix-like from the ashes and turn the old fire site where the bakery burned down into a state-of-the-art facility. "Once again we will be marrying the very best equipment available with our craft bakery skills so we can make even more fantastic products in greater volume." Projects director Kris Green said: "The additional capacity is needed because of our burgeoning order book thanks to the growing appetite for our products, not just here in the UK but also across Europe and as far afield as Australia. "It's going to enable us to make a wider range of products with a real focus on quality." Former managing director and chief executive, Robin Jones said: "Between them, these two major investments will create 150 new jobs – 30 of them at the site of the former bakery that was destroyed. "It was a heartbreaking experience but thankfully nobody was hurt and our darkest day also became our finest hour. "We are now growing faster than ever and his is great news for Wrexham and the local economy." Nigel Williams, Wrexham County Borough Council's lead member for economy, business and tourism, said: "How the company has bounced back after the fire and the growth they've had since then is phenomenal – the company is a great ambassador for Wrexham. Article continues below "It's great to hear that they have the confidence to continue investing in Wrexham – their commitment to Wrexham is 100% and the extra jobs coming here are great news for the local economy. "It's very much a family brand and a place to work with a family ethos which is nice to see nowadays."
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Eluned Morgan responds to UK Labour comments that Wales should be 'grateful' for what it gets from Westminster
Eluned Morgan responds to UK Labour comments that Wales should be 'grateful' for what it gets from Westminster It was during a row over rail funding Wales' First Minister Eluned Morgan has said comments by a senior UK Government minister saying Wales should be "grateful" for what it is has had in terms of rail funding were "unfortunate". Mrs Morgan was speaking in an interview with BBC Radio Wales' Sunday Supplement programme. The row started after the spring statement, when the UK Government announced a £445m funding package for rail in Wales. A number of questions were outstanding after that announcement including exactly what it would be spent on, and how much of it will go to the five new, promised stations in Cardiff, Newport and Monmouthshire. While the announcement was much lauded by Welsh Labour figures, it is far short of the total amount Wales needs, and does not address historic underfunding of rail in Wales, something now formally acknowledged by both UK and Welsh Governments. There were big questions remaining after the announcement, many of which we have been unable to get any clarity over since. You can read those here. Ten days ago, Darren Jones, chief secretary to the Treasury, was asked in the Commons by Wales' sole Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick about the funding. "I hope the minister appreciates just how insulting it is for Welsh ears to been told that we're getting a fair deal when it comes to railway funding, when we've been cheated out of billions of pounds due to the classification of several projects as England [and] Wales projects. Article continues below He said five new stations in south Wales was "hardly national renewal". Mr Jones responded: "There's a huge difference. Under the last government you didn't get a penny." He said the UK Government was providing the "largest real terms increase in spending in Wales since devolution began". He added: "You might want to be a little more grateful in future." Mr Chadwick said in a statement: "This was a gobsmackingly arrogant response from the minister that just shows how out of touch Labour are with Wales." While at the time, Plaid Cymru's Liz Saville Roberts said it was "arrogant and insulting". Mrs Morgan was asked by radio host Vaughan Roderick if that was how Westminster sees Wales. "That ws an unfortunate turn of phase," she said. Article continues below Asked if it made her wince, she replied: "I've said it was an unfortunate turn of phrase". She continued: "If you compare what we were given before with relation to rail compared to what we were getting before that's a substantial increase. Is it enough? No. "Has there been a commitment to give further? Yes. This is just the beginning".
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
New plan could power Wales to top of offshore wind industry
The action plan, developed by a dedicated task group, aims to unlock long-term economic and environmental benefits by building on Wales' growing pipeline of more than 15GW of offshore wind projects in surrounding waters. The sector could deliver up to £4.8 billion for Welsh businesses and create more than 3,000 jobs. Rebecca Evans, Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, said: "Last week, we welcomed the announcement that offshore wind in the Celtic Sea was moving from planning into development and delivery. "With two successful bidders announced to develop three gigawatts of clean energy, and a clear commitment from the Crown Estate to deliver the full 4.5GW, we see the start of billions of pounds of investment and thousands of jobs. "This truly is a once in a generation opportunity for our ports and will be a catalyst for economic regeneration in our coastal communities." The group recommendations include establishing a stakeholder forum by autumn 2025 to improve coordination between developers, government, and other key partners. Other proposals focus on streamlining planning and consent processes to speed up project delivery, supporting Welsh businesses to join the offshore wind supply chain, and addressing sector-specific skills gaps. Ajai Ahluwalia, head of supply chain at RenewableUK, said: "We are pleased to see clear, practical actions that respond directly to industry calls for greater certainty, stronger collaboration, and urgent delivery. "Offshore wind is one of the UK's greatest industrial opportunities — with the potential to transform Wales' heartland sectors, like steel and advanced manufacturing. "Over the next decade alone, £32 billion in economic value is at stake, including a £4.8 billion opportunity for Welsh businesses and 3,370 well-paid jobs. "To unlock that value, we must now move swiftly from planning to implementation — and industry stands ready to work with government to make it happen." The plan also emphasises the importance of skills development, calling for coordinated educational initiatives to prepare the workforce for emerging roles in wind turbine technology and high-voltage engineering. It highlights the need to integrate the Welsh steel and concrete industries into offshore wind supply chains, especially for floating wind foundations. Wales has led the way in offshore wind, hosting the UK's first fixed offshore wind projects in North Wales.
