PLANS to demolish a former county council-owned community centre in Pembroke Dock, and replace it with a Pets at Home retail store, will not now go ahead.

A spokeswoman for Pets at Home confirmed the London Road development would not go ahead, adding: “We have always kept our development plans under regular review. This means that in a more challenging and dynamic retail environment some of the developments we identify do not progress as initially envisaged.

“We still expect to open 10 new Pets at Home stores in the current financial year.”

An outline application, made by Dylan Jones of Esterkin Developments Pembroke Ltd, through Cardiff-based agent RPS, for a change of use for the vacant Development Centre on London Road was given the go-ahead at the December meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning and rights of way committee.

The site, a former school before becoming a development centre, was expected to be built some time in 2017.

The former community centre was originally put on the market in 2014 with an asking price of £200,000, but was later sold to Esterkin Developments for £150,750.

The proposed Pets at Home store plan promised to create 11 full time and 15 part-time jobs.

As well as demolishing the existing building, it is planned to create an 827m sq store, together with 53 car parking spaces and 10 cycle spaces, as well as creating an access on to London Road.

Speaking at the December meeting, agent Ross Bowen said: “The proposal will secure the regeneration of a gateway site to Pembroke Dock,” adding: “Redevelopment is the only option.”

He described the plans as “a real viable and identifiable scheme”.

He conceded concerns about access had been a source of conversations with the council’s Highways department.

However, members later heard from officers the application would not lead to major increases in traffic levels.

Town councillor Guy Anderson, speaking on behalf of local residents, said the loss of the building would be “detrimental to the town’s character and appearance,” and the competition with existing pet-related services would “undermine the viability of the town centre”.

The site is currently up for lease or sale.