Campsite Plans Rejected

An application to site a campsite on a rural Pembrokeshire field has been refused by county planners.

South Gloucestershire-based Christopher Nash sought permission from Pembrokeshire County Council for the establishment of a tourist touring caravan and camp site with associated facilities on land at the B4341 to Broad Haven, Haverfordwest, the works having started in May 2024.

A supporting statement for the touring caravan and tent campsite, just over a kilometre west of Portfield Gate, through agent Planix.UK Planning Consultants Ltd said: “The proposal seeks to provide tourism accommodation while being sensitive to the site’s rural context and Pembrokeshire’s planning policies, particularly those promoting sustainable development and tourism.”

The scheme includes a caravan and tent pitching area, a static caravan as a reception and office, and related facilities including a WC, shower and hardstanding, along with landscaping works.

An officer report recommending refusal said: “In terms of connectivity, the site can be accessed via an existing footpath from the Portfield Gate, although this ceases approximately 450 metres to the west of the site, with no safe footway towards Broad Haven.

“However, due to the distance from the settlement being in excess of a kilometre the site is not visually related to the settlement in terms of being seen as part of the same landscape via existing built form, and is not considered to be well related to Portfield Gate as set out with the LDP.

“Notwithstanding this, as required evidence has not been put forward that the development would provide a community facility or a service such as a shop, which is not otherwise available in the settlement, and which would be open for the community to use.”

It added: “An argument has been put forward within the submission that there is a fallback position that under permitted development rights via membership to the Caravan Club, the applicant has the ability to establish a certified camping and caravan site.  Although this is acknowledged, this suggested fall-back position is not considered to hold significant weight to be considered a material consideration.

“In addition, any exemption whilst being a member of an exempted organisation such as the Caravan Club would not allow for any operational development to take place and would limit the number of tents or touring caravans allowed as part of the exemption.”

It went on to say: “The proposed siting of a static caravan, a welfare building, access track and hardstanding area within the site is considered an incongruous addition within the countryside without robust justification.

“Although some screening is suggested to the northwest of the site details of this has not been provided therefore it is unclear if the screening would mitigate against the identified unjustified visual intrusion.”

The application was refused on grounds including being located in the countryside away from any settlement, visual intrusion, access and highway issues, it would “increase the volume of foul discharge from the site which is within the catchment of the River Cleddau Special Area of Conservation (SAC),” and the absence of a Green Infrastructure Statement.