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Wales Online
26-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
The derelict 'pink palace' Welsh motel that's been an eyesore for almost two decades
The derelict 'pink palace' Welsh motel that's been an eyesore for almost two decades The vacant former Roch Gate Motel in Pembrokeshire closed back in 2008 and has been described as a 'blot on the landscape' A consultation on plans to redevelop the derelict Roch Gate Motel has been launched (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) A multimillion-pound project to revamp a neglected Welsh motel dubbed 'the pink palace' and "one of the last true blots on Pembrokeshire's landscape", with plans to generate 18 jobs has received the green light. At a development management committee meeting for the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park last week, Nick Neumann of Newgale Holidays submitted a proposal. He sought approval to transform the defunct Roch Gate Motel into a combined commercial and community hub named 'The Gate'. The new site is set to feature a village shop/post office, a bistro/restaurant, and a tourism development comprised of 18 holiday lodges. After a pre-application consultation in 2023 and submitting plans in September, revisions have been made including lowering the visual impact. These amendments include decreasing lodge numbers from 25 to 18 and discarding industrial units initially planned in the project. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here . Despite reservations from Natural Resources Wales regarding visual and landscape impacts, planners have backed the application. A report for the planners acknowledged: "The proposal, however, is recognised as bringing significant benefits in terms of removing a building which is causing harm to the National Park landscape at present, given its significant dilapidation and disrepair." The long-abandoned and dilapidated ex-motel - located around three miles from the seaside village of Newgale - is often described as an "eyesore", having shut down its operations in 2008. Despite having received the green light for several projects like a unique hotel and an affordable housing initiative, none have reached completion. Article continues below The 'pink palace' (Image: Local Democracy Reporting Service ) Nick Neumann, who has since become a county councillor after first proposing the scheme, conveyed at the May meeting: "The former Rochgate Motel located at the gateway to the St Davids Peninsula on the A487 is somewhat famous for the wrong reasons as it remains one of the last true blots on our county's landscape. "Namely the 'pink palace' has remained dormant for nearly 20 years slowly deteriorating in condition whilst various proposals have come forward and never materialised." He continued, detailing the site's history as a World War 2 radar station before its transformation into a business hub featuring a motel, restaurant, spa, and events space in the early 60s, which thrived until it ceased operating in 2008. "Today we still receive comments from people who loved the motel back in the day," he said. "I myself can fondly remember visits with my late parents, and I wouldn't mind betting that at least one person at this meeting today would have memories of a visit to the motel. The motel was an institution back then and with your approval, will become once again." He elaborated: "The scheme (aptly named 'The Gate') will include the reinstatement of a bistro style restaurant, a village shop (an asset lost from our community within the last two years), an events space, and a modest tourism development, all just a stone's throw from Newgale sands, and six miles from our county town. "The proposal will bring a significant multi-million-pound investment into the community, create 18 FTE jobs, restore lost community provisions, and will see the revitalisation of the brownfield site with a new exciting provision to our growing community of Roch." Concluding his remarks, he said: "We have in principle funding agreed by the Development Bank of Wales, and in principle grant funding agreed by Visit Wales. "Our intention would be to start the development as soon as conditions were discharged, with a fully committed phasing plan in place commencing with the demolition of all existing buildings and the planting of new landscaping." Support for the project was echoed by others at the meeting, with David Smith, the former community council chair and chair of the Nolton and Roch Community Land Trust, mentioning that an informal survey of locals gathered over 120 supportive responses in just a few days. He noted the stark difference between previously approved but unrealised plans for "an ugly replacement motel" and an "ill-conceived housing development" in comparison to the latest proposal, which involves a new post office to replace the one indirectly lost due to the Horizon Post Office scandal—a fallout from software faults by Fujitsu, which led to the wrongful convictions of many postmasters. He remarked that the scheme would "significantly enhance the convenience and wellbeing of local residents," while also bringing job opportunities and replacing "replace a decaying eyesore that is a blight on the community". Michael Harries, the current chair of the community council, weighed in, describing how the vicinity had been "tarnished by a pink monstrosity eyesore" ever since the motel shut its doors in 2008. He juxtaposed the "false hopes" set by earlier proposals against Mr Neuman's current plan, highlighting the community's long anticipation for a fitting development and their "excitement to see this project progress". Councillor Simon Hancock, expressing his pleasure while moving approval, said he was "really, really delighted" to endorse the plan, emphasizing it as a "huge economic benefit" for the locale, with councillor Sam Skyrme-Blackhall seconding the motion, calling it a "fantastic way forward". Councillor Chris Williams agreed, saying: "I can't believe it's been so long, it has been an eyesore, I'm absolutely delighted something is going to come out of this." The application received conditional approval. Article continues below
Pembrokeshire Herald
24-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Derelict Pembrokeshire Roch Gate Motel to be redeveloped
A MULTI-MILLION POUND scheme to redevelop a derelict Pembrokeshire motel, described as 'one of the last true blots on our county's landscape' with the promise of creating 18 jobs, and even bringing back a post office lost after the Horizon scandal, has been approved. In an application before Pembrokeshire Coast National Park's May 21 development management committee, Nick Neumann of Newgale Holidays sought permission to redevelop the former Roch Gate Motel to a mixed commercial and community use hub called 'The Gate,' including a village shop/post office, bistro/restaurant, and a tourism development of 18 holiday lodges. Since a pre-application consultation in 2023 and a formal submission of plans last September, amended plans reduced the landscape impact, as well as reducing the number of lodges from 25 to 18 and removing previously included industrial units from the scheme. The application was recommended for approval despite concerns raised by Natural Resources Wales on visual and landscape impacts, a report for planners saying: 'The proposal, however, is recognised as bringing significant benefits in terms of removing a building which is causing harm to the National Park landscape at present, given its significant dilapidation and disrepair.' The vacant derelict former motel – dubbed an 'eyesore' in previous applications – closed back in 2008 and has a history of later approved planning schemes, including as a bespoke hotel and an affordable housing scheme, but none have come to fruition. Speaking at the May meeting, applicant Nick Neumann, who has become a county councillor since the scheme was first mooted, said: 'The former Rochgate Motel located at the gateway to the St Davids Peninsula on the A487 is somewhat famous for the wrong reasons as it remains one of the last true blots on our county's landscape. Namely the 'pink palace' has remained dormant for nearly 20 years slowly deteriorating in condition whilst various proposals have come forward and never materialised. 'The site, originally a former World War 2 radar station which became a commercial premises including motel, restaurant, spa and events facility in the early 1960s, was a much-loved popular venue for nearly 50 years before closing its doors in 2008. 'Today we still receive comments from people who loved the motel back in the day. I myself can fondly remember visits with my late parents, and I wouldn't mind betting that at least one person at this meeting today would have memories of a visit to the motel. The motel was an institution back then and with your approval, will become once again.' He added: 'The scheme (aptly named 'The Gate') will include the reinstatement of a bistro style restaurant, a village shop (an asset lost from our community within the last two years), an events space, and a modest tourism development, all just a stone's throw from Newgale sands, and six miles from our county town. 'The proposal will bring a significant multi-million-pound investment into the community, create 18 FTE jobs, restore lost community provisions, and will see the revitalisation of the brownfield site with a new exciting provision to our growing community of Roch.' He finished: 'We have in principle funding agreed by the Development Bank of Wales, and in principle grant funding agreed by Visit Wales. Our intention would be to start the development as soon as conditions were discharged, with a fully committed phasing plan in place commencing with the demolition of all existing buildings and the planting of new landscaping.' Other speakers at the meeting raised their support for the proposals, with former community council chair, and chair of the Nolton and Roch community Land Trust, David Smith saying an ad-hoc survey of local residents had seen more than 120 supportive responses in just a few days. He contrasted two previous granted, but never implemented, schemes for 'an ugly replacement motel' and an 'ill-conceived housing development' with the current scheme, which includes a replacement post office; the former post office indirectly closing in part due to the Horizon Post Office scandal, where many postmasters were wrongfully convicted as a result of faults in accounting software developed by Fujitsu for Horizon. He said the scheme would 'significantly enhance the convenience and wellbeing of local residents,' as well as creating jobs and would 'replace a decaying eyesore that is a blight on the community'. Current community council chair Michael Harries also spoke, saying the community has been 'tarnished by a pink monstrosity eyesore' since the motel closed in 2008. He contrasted the 'false hopes' of previous schemes with Mr Neuman's plans, saying residents had waited for a long time for a suitable development and were 'excited to see this project progress'. Moving approval, Cllr Simon Hancock said he was 'really, really delighted' to do so, saying it would be a 'huge economic benefit' for the area, with Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall seconding the 'fantastic way forward,' along with Cllr Chris Williams in support, who said: 'I can't believe it's been so long, it has been an eyesore, I'm absolutely delighted something is going to come out of this.' The application was conditionally approved.
Pembrokeshire Herald
24-05-2025
- Business
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Emergency services respond to person in water at Milford Haven
A MULTI-MILLION POUND scheme to redevelop a derelict Pembrokeshire motel, described as 'one of the last true blots on our county's landscape' with the promise of creating 18 jobs, and even bringing back a post office lost after the Horizon scandal, has been approved. In an application before Pembrokeshire Coast National Park's May 21 development management committee, Nick Neumann of Newgale Holidays sought permission to redevelop the former Roch Gate Motel to a mixed commercial and community use hub called 'The Gate,' including a village shop/post office, bistro/restaurant, and a tourism development of 18 holiday lodges. Since a pre-application consultation in 2023 and a formal submission of plans last September, amended plans reduced the landscape impact, as well as reducing the number of lodges from 25 to 18 and removing previously included industrial units from the scheme. The application was recommended for approval despite concerns raised by Natural Resources Wales on visual and landscape impacts, a report for planners saying: 'The proposal, however, is recognised as bringing significant benefits in terms of removing a building which is causing harm to the National Park landscape at present, given its significant dilapidation and disrepair.' The vacant derelict former motel – dubbed an 'eyesore' in previous applications – closed back in 2008 and has a history of later approved planning schemes, including as a bespoke hotel and an affordable housing scheme, but none have come to fruition. Speaking at the May meeting, applicant Nick Neumann, who has become a county councillor since the scheme was first mooted, said: 'The former Rochgate Motel located at the gateway to the St Davids Peninsula on the A487 is somewhat famous for the wrong reasons as it remains one of the last true blots on our county's landscape. Namely the 'pink palace' has remained dormant for nearly 20 years slowly deteriorating in condition whilst various proposals have come forward and never materialised. 'The site, originally a former World War 2 radar station which became a commercial premises including motel, restaurant, spa and events facility in the early 1960s, was a much-loved popular venue for nearly 50 years before closing its doors in 2008. 'Today we still receive comments from people who loved the motel back in the day. I myself can fondly remember visits with my late parents, and I wouldn't mind betting that at least one person at this meeting today would have memories of a visit to the motel. The motel was an institution back then and with your approval, will become once again.' He added: 'The scheme (aptly named 'The Gate') will include the reinstatement of a bistro style restaurant, a village shop (an asset lost from our community within the last two years), an events space, and a modest tourism development, all just a stone's throw from Newgale sands, and six miles from our county town. 'The proposal will bring a significant multi-million-pound investment into the community, create 18 FTE jobs, restore lost community provisions, and will see the revitalisation of the brownfield site with a new exciting provision to our growing community of Roch.' He finished: 'We have in principle funding agreed by the Development Bank of Wales, and in principle grant funding agreed by Visit Wales. Our intention would be to start the development as soon as conditions were discharged, with a fully committed phasing plan in place commencing with the demolition of all existing buildings and the planting of new landscaping.' Other speakers at the meeting raised their support for the proposals, with former community council chair, and chair of the Nolton and Roch community Land Trust, David Smith saying an ad-hoc survey of local residents had seen more than 120 supportive responses in just a few days. He contrasted two previous granted, but never implemented, schemes for 'an ugly replacement motel' and an 'ill-conceived housing development' with the current scheme, which includes a replacement post office; the former post office indirectly closing in part due to the Horizon Post Office scandal, where many postmasters were wrongfully convicted as a result of faults in accounting software developed by Fujitsu for Horizon. He said the scheme would 'significantly enhance the convenience and wellbeing of local residents,' as well as creating jobs and would 'replace a decaying eyesore that is a blight on the community'. Current community council chair Michael Harries also spoke, saying the community has been 'tarnished by a pink monstrosity eyesore' since the motel closed in 2008. He contrasted the 'false hopes' of previous schemes with Mr Neuman's plans, saying residents had waited for a long time for a suitable development and were 'excited to see this project progress'. Moving approval, Cllr Simon Hancock said he was 'really, really delighted' to do so, saying it would be a 'huge economic benefit' for the area, with Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall seconding the 'fantastic way forward,' along with Cllr Chris Williams in support, who said: 'I can't believe it's been so long, it has been an eyesore, I'm absolutely delighted something is going to come out of this.' The application was conditionally approved.
Western Telegraph
23-05-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
Derelict Pembrokeshire Roch Gate Motel to be redeveloped
In an application before Pembrokeshire Coast National Park's May 21 development management committee, Nick Neumann of Newgale Holidays sought permission to redevelop the former Roch Gate Motel to a mixed commercial and community use hub called 'The Gate,' including a village shop/post office, bistro/restaurant, and a tourism development of 18 holiday lodges. Since a pre-application consultation in 2023 and a formal submission of plans last September, amended plans reduced the landscape impact, as well as reducing the number of lodges from 25 to 18 and removing previously included industrial units from the scheme. The application was recommended for approval despite concerns raised by Natural Resources Wales on visual and landscape impacts, a report for planners saying: 'The proposal, however, is recognised as bringing significant benefits in terms of removing a building which is causing harm to the National Park landscape at present, given its significant dilapidation and disrepair.' The vacant derelict former motel – dubbed an 'eyesore' in previous applications – closed back in 2008 and has a history of later approved planning schemes, including as a bespoke hotel and an affordable housing scheme, but none have come to fruition. Speaking at the May meeting, applicant Nick Neumann, who has become a county councillor since the scheme was first mooted, said: 'The former Rochgate Motel located at the gateway to the St Davids Peninsula on the A487 is somewhat famous for the wrong reasons as it remains one of the last true blots on our county's landscape. Namely the 'pink palace' has remained dormant for nearly 20 years slowly deteriorating in condition whilst various proposals have come forward and never materialised. 'The site, originally a former World War 2 radar station which became a commercial premises including motel, restaurant, spa and events facility in the early 1960s, was a much-loved popular venue for nearly 50 years before closing its doors in 2008. 'Today we still receive comments from people who loved the motel back in the day. I myself can fondly remember visits with my late parents, and I wouldn't mind betting that at least one person at this meeting today would have memories of a visit to the motel. The motel was an institution back then and with your approval, will become once again.' He added: 'The scheme (aptly named 'The Gate') will include the reinstatement of a bistro style restaurant, a village shop (an asset lost from our community within the last two years), an events space, and a modest tourism development, all just a stone's throw from Newgale sands, and six miles from our county town. 'The proposal will bring a significant multi-million-pound investment into the community, create 18 FTE jobs, restore lost community provisions, and will see the revitalisation of the brownfield site with a new exciting provision to our growing community of Roch.' He finished: 'We have in principle funding agreed by the Development Bank of Wales, and in principle grant funding agreed by Visit Wales. Our intention would be to start the development as soon as conditions were discharged, with a fully committed phasing plan in place commencing with the demolition of all existing buildings and the planting of new landscaping.' Other speakers at the meeting raised their support for the proposals, with former community council chair, and chair of the Nolton and Roch community Land Trust, David Smith saying an ad-hoc survey of local residents had seen more than 120 supportive responses in just a few days. He contrasted two previous granted, but never implemented, schemes for 'an ugly replacement motel' and an 'ill-conceived housing development' with the current scheme, which includes a replacement post office; the former post office indirectly closing in part due to the Horizon Post Office scandal, where many postmasters were wrongfully convicted as a result of faults in accounting software developed by Fujitsu for Horizon. He said the scheme would 'significantly enhance the convenience and wellbeing of local residents,' as well as creating jobs and would 'replace a decaying eyesore that is a blight on the community'. Current community council chair Michael Harries also spoke, saying the community has been 'tarnished by a pink monstrosity eyesore' since the motel closed in 2008. He contrasted the 'false hopes' of previous schemes with Mr Neuman's plans, saying residents had waited for a long time for a suitable development and were 'excited to see this project progress'. Moving approval, Cllr Simon Hancock said he was 'really, really delighted' to do so, saying it would be a 'huge economic benefit' for the area, with Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall seconding the 'fantastic way forward,' along with Cllr Chris Williams in support, who said: 'I can't believe it's been so long, it has been an eyesore, I'm absolutely delighted something is going to come out of this.' The application was conditionally approved.
