NATIONAL park planning chiefs have given the green light to a controversial Premier Inn hotel at the gateway to St Davids as well as 38 affordable houses and 32 open market dwellings.

The application was recommended for approval by the National Park’s Development Management Committee on June 6 last year and was delegated to the authority’s chiefs for a final decision.

The application to build a 63-bedroom hotel with restaurant and 38 affordable rented homes, via Pembrokeshire Housing Association, and 32 properties for sale, built and marketed through Mill Bay Homes, has been dogged by controversy.

Campaigners objected to the hotel development, saying it would “severely damage” Britain’s smallest city. More than 5,000 people signed a petition against the proposed Premier Inn and a packed public meeting also voted a resounding no to the hotel's involvement in the Glasfryn scheme.

The national park received 281 letters of objection, and 78 letters of support for the development.

The developers maintained that the scheme would provide much-needed affordable housing on the St Davids Peninsula and that the hotel would generate 20 full time jobs and attract 40,000 guests throughout the year, anticipated to spend an additional £1.5 million per year in the local economy.

The application was approved by planning chiefs just a week before Christmas, subject to the legal agreement and conditions agreed by the Authority’s Development Management Committee on 6 June 2018.

These conditions include a Section 106 agreement that there is a contribution from the developers towards active travel improvements and bus services education and open space; a financial contribution to Dwr Cymru/Welsh Water towards infrastructure reinforcements and that the 38 affordable dwellings be provided on site.

The development must begin within the next five years and detailed lighting, landscape and ecological plans must be submitted to the authority before the start of any building work.

Access details, a construction management plan, a drainage scheme and landscaping proposals should also be submitted and approved by the park authority.