A SCHEME for 17 affordable homes on the site of a Pembrokeshire seaside village football pitch has been approved by national park planners.
In an application recommended for conditional approval at the April 9 meeting of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee, housing group Ateb – in partnership with Solva Community Land Trust – sought permission for the two-stage development on land adjacent to Bro Dawel, Solva.
The hybrid application sought full planning for the first stage: 17 social-rented dwellings, the reinstatement of a junior football pitch and associated works, along with outline planning permission for a second phase of a residential development of 11 dwellings.
An officer report for members said: “The application process has been lengthy, namely due to concerns surrounding design and the uncertainty surrounding the capacity of the Solva wastewater treatment works (WwTW).
“The design is overall acceptable and in coming to a recommendation authority officers have given considerable weight to the contribution the scheme will make in addressing local housing need. The Authority expects the scheme to achieve a high-quality appearance and appropriate planning conditions should realise this requirement.”
It added: “The scheme will lead to the loss of 2-3 junior football pitches however one pitch will be reinstated as part of the proposal with the addition of a storage facility. The standard, design and construction of both pitch and storage facility shall be secured via the Section 106 [legal] agreement, in addition to their future management and maintenance.
“Planning obligations for secondary education provision, library contributions and assurance that the housing remains affordable in perpetuity will be secured by legal agreement. Subject to the provision of these planning obligations and necessary conditions the proposal is considered acceptable, and the application is recommended for approval.”
The proposal includes a storage facility (small shed) for a ride-on mower and smaller items of kit for the football club, a statement that specifies that the open space be retained as such in perpetuity, with it used as a football pitch, a financial contribution to cover extra pupil capacity at Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi in St Davids of £34,560 for the first phase, and a contribution of £1,217.44 for library services.
Members heard the properties would help address a county housing need of 142 affordable homes a year, with a local lettings policy.
Speaking at the meeting, Joshua Philips, a member of the local community council and the Solva Community Land Trust said the scheme would help address a “housing crisis going on in Wales,” with 5,000 people on the housing list in Pembrokeshire alone.
Members approved the scheme, with 16 for and one abstention.
