Concerns around traffic management and the need for ongoing communication with local residents with regards to plans to build new homes in the centre of Narberth have been highlighted to local councillors.

Reporting to this month’s meeting of Narberth Town Council, the Urban ward’s County Councillor, Marc Tierney said that he’d attended the recent open afternoon event in the Bloomfield Cetre with Wales and West Housing Association (WWHA) to discuss proposals to build 89 new homes on a site between Adams Drive and Bloomfield Gardens.

The plans submitted to Pembrokeshire County Council aim to bring a scheme of 1, 2, 3 and 4 bed houses, apartments, and bungalows to the site, which is currently three open fields.

The area has been allocated as a key site for residential development in Pembrokeshire County Council’s Local Development Plan since 2006. The local authority expects that 25 per cent of the homes will be affordable.

However, WWHA is proposing that approximately half of the homes will be available for affordable social rent or offered for sale as part of a discounted home ownership scheme.

Under such schemes homes are offered for sale at 70 per cent of the market value to help people with a local connection who want to buy their own home but cannot afford the rising property prices in Narberth. The remainder will be sold on the open market.

Cllr Tierney told local councillors that he had received several letters from residents and has made a written representation to WWHA with regard to the layout of the site in relation to the build environment. 

He also highlighted concerns around traffic management and the need for ongoing communication with local residents. 

“The demarcation of this land for housing was determined some time ago. There is also a need for more housing to support those who are waiting for a home in the Narberth area,” stated Cllr Tierney.