Solva is to be the first site for affordable homes to be built using Pembrokeshire’s second home council tax fund.

The county council’s cabinet approved a housing strategy for the Second Homes Council Tax premium, affordable housing element and endorsed the prioritisation of Solva.

Cabinet member for finance Cllr Bob Kilmister said it was a “bit of good news for me for a change” as he updated members on the decision of a working group examining three options for development.

Land at Solva’s football pitch was favoured as the preferred site over Fishguard’s Penwallis and the former Cleddau Reach School site in Llangwm.

A report to cabinet states that there is currently £1,821,000  available for the provision of affordable housing – £1,742,000 generated from Second Home Council Tax Premium with  £871,000 earmarked for the purpose of delivering affordable housing.

In 2018-19 there is projected to be around £1,900,000 generated and £950,000 available for the purpose of affordable housing.

“The site in Solva is a good site and one that a private contractor would find more difficult to deliver. There is an appreciable housing need in an area affected by second homes,” said Cllr Kilmister.

Council leader Cllr David Simpson said he thought it was “wonderful that this money is being raised from the second homes.”

He added: “This is just half of it, this will provide homes for local people and the other half given out in grants to different organisations. It’s nice to see that both parallel schemes are doing well,” he added.

Land at Brynhir, Tenby, the former Johnston School and on Charles Street, Milford Haven are also due to be developed by the Housing Revenue Account fund.