CONTENTIOUS plans to build a Premier Inn hotel and 70 houses on the approach to St Davids are expected to get the thumbs-up from national park planners next month.

The June 6 meeting of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee is recommended to back delegation of the plans to senior officers to approve the Glasfryn site application.

A full planning application was previously submitted to the national park 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.

The hotel itself is expected to create 22 full-time jobs.

The divisive application has caused massive controversy in Britain's smallest city.

281 letters of objection, and 78 letters of support were received.

Those supporting the scheme said that the new affordable housing was needed in the area.

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.

The application has been discussed at previous committee meetings, with a site visit taking place in March, where members of the committee were greeted at the Glasfryn site by around 30 members of the YePI (Yes to Premier Inn) group as well as six representatives from the newly-formed SPLASH (Stop Premier Inn, Local Action for Social Housing) group.

Images produced by Premier Inn's parent company, Whitbread to give a better understanding of the effect of the proposed Premier Inn on the St Davids landscape have been criticised by campaigners No to Premier Inn group, NOPi.

The committee meeting is due to take place at Ty'r Pererin, Quickwell Hill, St Davids, from 10am.