Supporters and opponents of plans to build a Premier Inn and homes on the entrance to St Davids turned out in force to hear a decision on the development today.

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority's Development Management Committee met this morning (Wednesday) in the city.

The meeting was packed with members of the public.

The plans split the city in two with strong representation both for and against the plans.

Local resident, Helen Silverstone, spoke passionately for the development, including the hotel, saying it was essential to create jobs and affordable housing, sustain the schools and keep the Welsh language alive in the city.

“The people I am speaking on behalf of are generally born and bred in Saint Davids,” she said. “They have no wish to live in a 1950’s Disneyland version of St Davids. They aspire to be part of a vibrant forward-thinking community. St Davids needs to develop beyond its theme park status.

 “I feel this application is a strong part of the National Park’s statutory duty to support financial and cultural wellbeing of local communities.”

Her opinion was backed up by Cllr David Lloyd, who addressed the meeting as a founder and director of the Community land Trust and the local county councillor.

“It is in my view imperative that these homes are built,” he said adding that 37% of homes on the peninsula were not occupied year-round but were either second homes or commercial holiday lets.

He added that the community needed young families;  Ysgol Dewi Sant had come close to closing in 2016, there was no longer a second rugby team n the city and the football club had closed down.

He said the 63 new hotel bedrooms in the city would replace those of other hotels that have closed down.

“St Davids is lacking in medium range accommodation, “ he said. “In Tenby Premier Inn  has been a major boost to trade in accommodation and retail sectors. I am confident this wil be the same in St Davids.

“This is a remarkable opportunity for St Davids and the park, one we must grasp.”

Graham Perkins, speaking against the development, said the houses would be built whether the hotel went ahead or not and that there was not a need for the hotel.

“This will be three times the of any hotel in St Davids,” he said. “With as many beds as the six largest hotels combined.

“No evidence has been put forward by the hotel applicants to support the number of visitors they say will stay. There will be no local procurement and profits will drain out of Pembrokeshire.

“This will be the first multi -national hotel to be built on a national park green field site. What a precedent you will set if you grant it.

“I beg you for the welfare of future generations to reject this application while indicating support for the housing we all want.”

St Davids mayor, Mike Chant, addressed the meeting to say that the city council had resolved to support the three elements of the development. However he urged that the necessary work at the Porthclais sewage works, already operating beyond capacity, be carried out before the development progressed.

Geraint John, speaking on behalf of the planning agent, said there would be 55 percent affordable housing on the site, 76 percent more that specified in the Local Development Plan and that the 38 affordable homes would be a “significant contribution to affordable housing in St Davids”.

He said the hotel sought to provide budget accommodation, something not already available in the city.

He also said the company was in advanced talks with a local contractor to undertake the building work.

There have been 281 letters of objection, and 78 letters of support received by the park.

The full planning application is for a 63-bedroom Premier Inn hotel with restaurant and 38 affordable rented homes, via Pembrokeshire Housing Association, and 32 properties for sale, built and marketed through Mill Bay Homes.

A number of the market homes will be offered as shared ownership properties. A percentage will also be offered exclusively to local residents, or individuals with a connection to the local area, for a limited period of time.

Positive responses to the controversial hotel development were that it would create jobs, allow the housing to be developed, bring job opportunities, training and year-round economic benefits as well as increasing footfall in the city.

Those objecting say the hotel will not source supplies locally, would have an adverse impact on local accommodation providers, causing job losses and reducing job opportunities.

Objectors also expressed concerns that the hotel design was characterless and inappropriate and that 63 more rooms were not needed in St Davids.

At the vote, 16 members of the Development Management committee agreed to go with the condition that the plan be delegrated to officers to approve the plans, subject to conditions.

Following the decision, Kevin Murray, head of acquisitions (north & Ireland) for Whitbread, owners of Premier Inn, said: “The planning committee’s decision to approve the application is a vote of confidence for investment and sustainable growth in St Davids. 

"It gives the green light to not just a new Premier Inn and increased hotel choice in the city but also to year-round jobs and 70 new homes.

“The decision demonstrates the effectiveness of the planning process which has balanced all of the issues and interests involved.  The designs for Glasfryn Road were developed through consultation and discussions with the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority and other stakeholders and we have been open in demonstrating how a new Premier Inn hotel in St Davids would support the local economy, for example by encouraging our customers to visit the city throughout the year.

“These discussions have helped to shape a well-designed new development that will make a positive and long-lasting contribution to the city’s future”.

The group No 2 Premier Inn St Davids (NOPI) said it was disappointed with the committee's decision.

In a statement, the group said: "We are extremely disappointed at the decision by the PCNPA Committee.  Since the community became aware of the plans to include a Premier Inn on the Glasfryn Road site just one year ago, the significant majority of the community have been against it.

"Throughout the past year the community have been asked for their opinion on more than 3 separate occasions, and consistently 80% of people have objected to the hotel.  This level of opposition was again shown at today’s meeting.  People do not want this and the reaction in the community has been one of anger, people are asking why the voice of the majority of the community has been so blatantly ignored by the National Park?

"In addition to public opinion, as NOPi, representing residents, business owners and visitors opposed to the development, we reviewed the application in great detail and put forward a comprehensive objection to the proposals based on material planning considerations.  Our objective response was fully backed up by evidence as to how harmful this hotel will be to the community, and how detrimental to the special qualities of the National Park it will be, but our objections appear to have been disregarded.

"We can’t understand how the planning officer can come to the opinion that the visual impact of a building of this scale and size, more than three and half times the height of a double decker bus, in a highly prominent and sensitive position in the National Park ‘is not considered (such) that the scale is so adverse on the National Park to warrant refusal of the scheme.'  No doubt many people who live here, and those who work hard to develop local businesses here, under the policies of the National Park will feel the same.

"We are completely in support of the housing, and welcome the high level of affordable homes, but it appears that by having a high level of affordable housing on the site it gives carte-blanche for a 63-bedroom hotel – without a requirement to establish justification and need of such a hotel.  Whitbread & Premier Inn have simply smuggled this in on the back of the housing scheme.

"To add insult to injury we were approached by Whitbread representatives after the meeting who said that they had not been given the opportunity to discuss the community’s concerns as to the impact the hotel would have on local businesses.  This is rather galling given that our invitation to the Chief Executive’s of Whitbread and Premier Inn to meet with the community was rebuffed, stating that they ‘did not think it was appropriate to meet’. 

"All we have every campaigned for is to have the voice of the community heard, to ask for an open, transparent and honest review of the application, and for the community not to be strong-armed into having to have a Premier Inn in order to have the housing we desperately need.  Sadly, it appears this is exactly what has happened.