Support our Nation today - please donate here
News

Controversial plan approved to replace historic clifftop building above Pembrokeshire bay

22 Jun 2022 2 minute read
Pencastell, Ceibwr Bay

Katy Jenkins, local democracy reporter

A controversial plan to replace a historic building on the cliffs overlooking Ceibwr Bay has been approved following submission of a new application.

Plans to demolish and replace Pencastell had been refused by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park last year and a new – smaller – replacement dwelling was proposed, this time getting the go ahead.

Objections to the plan remained, and Nevern and Moylegrove Community Councillor Hedydd Lloyd said the new building would impact views of the area and “giving a message of bad planning,” calling the first plan put forward for the site “ludicrous.”

She asked that a “creative solution to retrofit” the existing house be found and highlighted that although similar in hight to the existing chimney there would be a glazed, gable end “jutting out” closer to the cliff edge.

Applicant Andrew Hebard said the majority of the remaining building was of “modern cavity construction” and little historic detail remained, with an engineers report indicating that refurbishment was economically unviable.

He said the new application was reduced in size from the previous application and not significantly higher than the original building’s highest point.

‘Heritage’

The replacement house includes a sunken garage, as well as four bedrooms, living room, garden room, dining room and study, with a mezzanine level at the southern end of the dwelling.

The disruption caused by construction was recognised and a project manager would be “sensitive to the area and working with neighbours.” A condition to ensure a detailed construction management plan was also imposed by the committee.

Local councillor Mike James disagreed with the officer conclusion that the development “will not cause an unacceptable or detrimental impact to the special qualities of the National Park,” highlighting the impact on the view from other areas of the north Pembrokeshire coast and the potential to damage the coast path itself.

Dr Rosie Plummer also raised concerns about light pollution and the effect on wildlife and Cllr Steve Alderman said it was a “shame to lose another vernacular building from a heritage area.”.

Delegated power of approval was granted to the director of planning and park direction subject to a number of conditions including a light mitigation strategy for external lighting.


Support our Nation today

For the price of a cup of coffee a month you can help us create an independent, not-for-profit, national news service for the people of Wales, by the people of Wales.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
2 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
2 years ago

“A shame to lose another vernacular building from a heritage area” just say no…

Not My Real Name
Not My Real Name
2 years ago

What’s historical about it? Why would changing the house from an old one to a new one substatially change the view and cause light pollution? Yes counstruction is disruptive. This is not news Was the engineer’s report written by a Washing Machine “Engineer”? I AM an engineer and can see that the house is currently lived in successfully. Therefore to make modifications is in no way “economically unviable”. That is simply a lie. The owner just wants a grand McMansion and is trying it on. Where is the owner from? Will they live here all year round? Will they contribute… Read more »

Our Supporters

All information provided to Nation.Cymru will be handled sensitively and within the boundaries of the Data Protection Act 2018.