Latest news with #EvansBanksPlanningLimited
Western Telegraph
23-07-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Pembrokeshire village pub conversion to house refused
In a partly retrospective application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Ms G Key, through agent Evans Banks Planning Limited, sought permission for the conversion of the former Taberna Inn and associated flat, Herbrandston Village, Milford Haven, to one residential dwelling. Work started in March 2021 but has not been finished. A supporting statement through the agent said: 'We understand that the property was purchased by the applicant in November 2020 and operated for four months as a public house on the ground floor. 'The property has therefore remained closed as a public house since that date and only used for residential purposes by the applicant. This current application therefore seeks to regularise the situation and enable the properly to be used as a single residential dwelling.' More: Fears closure of fire-ravaged village school being 'steamrolled' through More: Pembrokeshire beaches named some of the cleanest in the UK It says the loss of the pub to the village will not be felt as strongly as elsewhere as Herbrandston has an alternative venue, Herbrandston Hub, which opened in February 2020, and acts a successful community venue and centre for the settlement's sports teams. It adds: 'The Pandemic had and continues to have many impacts on people's lives and also their livelihoods, no more so than in the leisure and hospitality industries. With socialising patterns having now changed, many village public houses have found it impossible to continue to operate at anywhere near a viable level.' Local community council Hebrandston objected to the proposal on the grounds the village has already lost amenities in recent years, adding: 'The councillors feel strongly that the community needs and deserves the Taberna to remain as a public house and restaurant. 'The Community Hub in the village, that is mentioned in the application as an alternative to the Taberna is not a suitable replacement. It is only open part time, i.e. Thursday/Friday evenings, and weekends. It is run by an association of volunteers and is primarily used by the sports teams that use the field. It does not have a food licence, and they have no desire to open any restaurant.' An officer report recommending refusal said: 'Given the lack of evidence justifying the loss of this community facility and guest houses within the small community of Herbranston, it is considered that the proposed development would lead to a detrimental reduction in the existing level and range of facilities available to Park residents and visitors, contrary to the Local Development Plan's aim to encourage the retention and provision of such facilities.' The application was refused on grounds including it would 'result in the unacceptable loss of an existing community facility,' and 'the applicant has failed to demonstrate the potential for continued use of the facility as unviable'.
Powys County Times
09-06-2025
- Business
- Powys County Times
Industrial estate with 13 business units planned in Powys
PLANS for a mini industrial estate that could boost the local economy in the south western tip of the county have been lodged with Powys council planners. The application for by Mr and Mrs Evans is to set up 13 commercial storage and light industrial yard compounds which would help 'small business development' at land off the former Haul road west of Brynygroes, in Ystradgynlais. The scheme would also see compound security fencing, access gates for each of the units. The site is near a development of 110 houses which are currently being built at Brynygroes. Planning agent Richard Banks of Evans Banks Planning Limited explained the proposal in a planning statement. Mr Banks said: 'The site is capable of delivering 13 small / modest commercial plots suitable for low-level starter and small businesses in search of a small compound to store plant and machinery or to provide storage and distribution. 'The proposals would be seen as utilising the existing haul road for all access in very much the same manner as the former opencast site would have regularly required HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicles) access to and from that development. 'Multiple daily lorry movements to the opencast site were commonplace.' Mr Banks explains that the applicants know that there is a demand in the area for these types of units. He said: 'The applicants have experienced such small business demand for modest storage and light industrial space at their facility at Woodlands Business Park at Ystradgynlais. 'A total of 210 storage containers have been placed on plots three and six at the business park, and the take-up and demand for that new storage facility has been overwhelming. 'The applicants are of the firm opinion that a uniformly laid out series of small commercial compounds at the Haul Road site would provide for small business to have a modest base at Ystradgynlais to store vehicles, plant or other commercial equipment.' Mr Banks adds that the applicants have already discussed the proposal with county planners last year and said that they 'broadly support' the principle of such development. Mr Banks said: 'The development of the site will ensure a deliverable source of future employment land for the Ystradgynlais growth area in which it lies, which has seen an under supply of commercial opportunities prior to and since the adoption of the current LDP (Local Development Plan). 'The development of the site will help to redress this imbalance.' A decision on the application is expected by July 31.
Pembrokeshire Herald
25-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Pembrokeshire village affordable housing scheme amendments sought
AMENDMENTS to approved plans for a scheme for 67 affordable homes in a Pembrokeshire village have been lodged with council planning officers. In an application given officer delegated powers of approval at the February meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council's planning committee, Ateb Group Limited sought permission for a '100 per cent affordable' residential development of 57 houses and 10 bungalows, and associated works, at land off The Kilns, Llangwm, the site already having permission for 54 homes. An officer report, recommending approval, said a social housing grant has been secured for the first phase of the proposed development, for 25 dwellings, with the mix of the second phase indicative at this stage. Llangwm Community Council had raised issues including sewerage system capacity, a lack of facilities in the village and at nearby Cleddau Reach School for the size of the development, and potential traffic congestion. 18 letters of concern, including from Cleddau Reach VC school were also received, raising issues including traffic and parking, a loss of privacy, the scale and design of the development, the scheme representing a 'fundamental change in the character of the village,' being 'in excess of the need for affordable housing in Llangwm and nearby villages,' and 'likely anti-social behaviour associated with the development,'. Concerns also raised on the impact the development would have on water quality from the increased foul water draining demands of the scheme. Delegated approval to the council's head of planning was granted, subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement which includes financial contributions to mitigate the impact of development on local schools Cleddau Reach VC and Haverfordwest High VC, with an agreement reached in April including an agreed £10,000 contribution towards bus stop provision. Since then, fresh calls – in the form of four separate applications – have been made to vary some of the conditions in the initial approval, including a condition to submit a Construction & Environment Management Plan (CEMP), which the applicants now say has been prepared, a call to discharge an access details condition, a landscape condition, and a drainage condition. The four applications will be considered by county planners at a later date. Pictured above: An artist impression of the proposals at The Kilns, Llangwm. Picture: Evans Banks Planning Limited. (Image: Evans Banks Planning Limited)
Pembrokeshire Herald
22-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Taberna Inn pub in Herbrandston could become a house
A CALL to regularise the conversion of a Pembrokeshire village pub, which became unviable due to changes in the hospitality industry as a result of the Covid pandemic, to a house has been submitted. In a partly retrospective application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Ms G Key, through agent Evans Banks Planning Limited, seeks permission for the conversion of the former Taberna Inn and associated flat in Herbrandston, near Milford Haven, to one residential dwelling. Work started in March 2021 but has not been finished, the current application to regularise the situation. A supporting statement through the agent says: 'We understand that the property was purchased by the applicant in November 2020 and operated for four months as a public house on the ground floor. 'The property has therefore remained closed as a public house since that date and only used for residential purposes by the applicant. This current application therefore seeks to regularise the situation and enable the properly to be used as a single residential dwelling.' It says the loss of the pub to the village will not be felt as strongly as elsewhere as Herbrandston has an alternative venue, Herbrandston Hub, which opened in February 2020, and acts a successful community venue and centre for the settlement's sports teams. 'The use of the application site as a public house is therefore no longer required, and, as has been experienced by the applicant, not commercially viable,' the statement says. It adds: 'The pandemic had and continues to have many impacts on people's lives and also their livelihoods, no more so than in the leisure and hospitality industries. With socialising patterns having now changed, many village public houses have found it impossible to continue to operate at anywhere near a viable level. 'Notwithstanding the above, whilst many villages in rural parts of Wafes have lost their one and only public house, Herbrandston is lucky in that there continues to be a vibrant location for its population to socialise, in the form of the Herbrandston Hwb. 'The application proposal will therefore not have a negative impact on the existing community facility and its loss will not reduce the current level enjoyed by the local population.' It says the change of use will also lead to less traffic generation and potential disturbance for local residents. The application will be considered by park planners at a later date.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Overseas workers allowed to live in caravans at Haverfordwest business
A call to allow eight workers' caravans sited without planning permission at Wales' largest wholesale suppliers of potatoes and seasonal vegetables producers to remain has been approved by Pembrokeshire planners. In a Certificate of lawful development application before Pembrokeshire County Council, Puffin Produce Ltd sought to retain the eight static staff accommodation caravans at its headquarters on Withybush Road, Haverfordwest; the caravans having been in place for at least a decade. An application for a certificate of lawful development allows an applicant to keep a development if they can provide proof of occupancy or use over a prolonged period. A supporting statement through agent Evans Banks Planning Limited said Puffin Produce Ltd 'has been in business since the 1970s and is now the largest supplier of Welsh produce in Wales, supplying a wide variety of potatoes and seasonal vegetables to multiple major retailers and wholesalers'. It added: 'During this time, the business has often relied upon the use of employment agencies and overseas workers, with many of these being accommodated in the static caravans at the headquarters site. Therefore, the use of the on-site residential accommodation in the form of the eight static caravans has been critical in the success of the business, both over the last 10 years and moving forward into the future.' Evidence provided by the applicants, including sworn affidavits by those responsible for maintenance, electrical testing, human resources, and a former occupant, stated the caravans had been on-site for more than 10 years; the applicant seeking 'to regularise the situation'. It added: 'Post-Brexit the company has moved towards 'Proforce' agency and 'RE Recruitment', with all agency staff recruited on fixed term contracts with their right to work varying between seasonal workers or settle/pre-settled status, with on-site accommodation then provided.' It finished by saying four of the caravans had been on-site back in 2013, with the remainder added to over time up to January 2015, confirming 'that there have been eight static caravans present on site for an uninterrupted period of over 10 years'. The certificate of lawful development was approved by county planning officers.
