A planning application to build a new housing development in Manorbier, with the provision of 23 affordable homes is up for discussion again next week at a meeting of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s development management committee.

At their previous meeting in April, members voted against approving the application submitted by Mr. Sam Stalbow, of the Pembrokeshire Housing Association, which proposes the erection of 23 affordable homes with associated access, parking, landscaping and engineering works, at Station Road.

Committee members stated that they were concerned about over development at the site and raised other concerns such as transport links, with seven voting in favour of the land and seven against, leaving the casting vote to the committee’s chair Clr. Reg Owens, who elected to go against the planing officer’s recommendation and recommend refusal of the scheme.

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

The application will be discussed again at the next meeting, of the development management committee, to be held in St Davids on June 6, after undergoing a ‘cooling off’ period.

A report from planning officer Caroline Bowen that is set to go before the committee states that members did not amplify the justification or provide evidence for the statement that the mix of housing is inappropriate and are being advised that there have been no substantive changes to the material planning issues since the Inspector’s consideration of this site at the Local Development Plan (LDP).

The application is therefore being put forward to be delegated to the Authority’s Chief Executive/Director of Park Direction and Planning to grant planning permission subject to the following conditions - The interested person(s) first entering into a satisfactory Section 106 Legal Agreement or Agreements to include the following necessary planning obligations: To procure that no less than 50% of the dwellings built on the site pursuant to the planning permission are built, and thereafter retained, as affordable housing.

If the Section 106 legal agreement is not completed within 3 months of the foregoing resolution then delegated power be given to the Chief Executive/Director of Park Direction and Planning to exercise discretion to refuse the application on the grounds of noncompliance with Policies 45, 52 and 53 of the LDP.