Green light for Bluestone expansion plans

The final part of plans to add an extra 80 lodges at Bluestone National Park Resort have been given the green light.

The development management committee at Pembrokeshire Coast National Park approved Bluestone’s plan for expansion at its meeting today, 24 hours after the proposal was approved by the county council.

With aspects of the plan for the south west corner of the resort sitting in local authority and national park areas both organisations needed to give the go-ahead.

The application included the removal of a timber structure, installation of holiday lodges and guest car parking, enhancements to the existing access road and associated infrastructure including circulation road, landscaping, drainage infrastructure, retaining walls and earth bunding.

Lodges

There are currently 334 lodges, studios and cottages sleeping two to 14 people at the resort, along with a variety of cafes, restaurants and bars, a mini supermarket, a spa, an adventure centre and the ‘Blue Lagoon’ waterpark and Serendome.

A further 65 two-storey and 15 one-storey lodges as well as a welcome lodge and communal hub structures will be built as part of the new plans.

The 80 new lodges will be “of a higher quality” with an eco-focus reducing carbon and energy usage with 29 four-bed, two level lodges, 15 two-bed, single level lodges and 36 three-bed, two level lodges.

Cllr Michael Williams highlighted the need for Section 106 agreements to be met and asked for assurance enforcement action would be carried out if necessary.

Yesterday the county council committee unanimously approved the proposals.

The proposed development site is to the south west corner of the resort and “is located between two large scale developments and is an infill development on operational land,” a planning report states.

A pre-application consultation was held last year, when Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority also approved a change of use application for Blackpool Mill to be turned into the restaurant, with a cafe and exhibition space in the adjacent former cottage and forge building.