A £10m expansion by Folly Farm to create a multi-themed 135 unit holiday village was given the green light by county planners on Tuesday, December 13.

At December’s Pembrokeshire County Council planning and rights of way committee it was recommended to approve the plan.

The application will be subject to a Section 106 legal agreement for improvements to the footpath into nearby Begelly.

The south Pembrokeshire tourist attraction announced back in July that it had submitted plans for the change of use of a nearby 11 hectare site, currently used as grazing pasture, to the holiday park which would feature lodges and glamping.

Safari-style ridge tents, showmen’s wagons, circus-style bell tents and teepees are amongst the accommodation options planned to reflect some of the themes of Folly Farm.

Folly Farm describes the plan as “a unique, high-quality concept that will bring a new product to Pembrokeshire, if not to the UK as a whole”.

The plan, for land at Windberry Top Farm, Begelly also features conversion of various farm buildings to form an ancillary café, reception/shop and games room/overflow café; reception/shop and games room; use of the existing farmhouse for warden’s accommodation and extension of a zoo animal enclosure.

At Tuesday’s planning committee meeting, agent Nick Mannering said the application would help Folly Farm, which attracts 500,000 visitors a year, create some new jobs and safeguard the 60 full-time and 140 part-time seasonal staff.

He said the accommodation would be in themed units, based on Folly Farm’s existing attractions, and would extend the operating season, and the £35,000 Section 106 agreement footpath would improve pedestrian links.

Following a question from East Williamston councillor Jacob Williams, Mr Mannering told members it had initially been planned to have 150-200 units on site.

Moving approval Councillor Brian Hall said the application would be a “massive, massive investment to the benefit of the people of Pembrokeshire,” adding: “I have no qualms whatsoever in supporting the application; I’m absolutely delighted it’s coming to Pembrokeshire, and more importantly, south Pembrokeshire.”

However, Cllr Jacob Williams, while supporting the success of Folly Farm, raised concerns about the application being contrary to the development plan and added concerns about the impact on other tourism businesses.

He later cited recent examples of other ‘glamping’-style applications not being recommended for approval.

Councillor Tony Brinsden also voiced a concern that those staying on-site would not benefit the wider area for tourism.

Members approved the application unanimously.

The scheme will now be referred back to full Pembrokeshire County Council for final determination because the application is a departure from the Local Development Plan, on the basis the site is not ‘well-related’ to the nearby community of Begelly, and that static caravan and chalet sites are usually only supported within the boundary of a defined settlement.