Planners Approve Works for 16 New Apartments at Former Snooker Club Site in Haverfordwest

Works related to a scheme for 16 new apartments at the riverside site of Haverfordwest’s former snooker club have been given the thumbs-up by planners.
In an application submitted to Pembrokeshire County Council, Caen Pembrokeshire Ltd, through agent Pembroke Design Ltd, sought a Certificate of Lawful Development for 2019 approved works at the former Snooker Club, Quay Street, Haverfordwest.
An application for a certificate of lawful development is usually used to allow an applicant to stay at or keep a development if they can provide proof of occupancy or use over a prolonged period.
In this case the certificate call is to confirm the lawful implementation of a 2019 approved scheme for the conversion of three listed buildings and the demolition and replacement of a fourth building to form 16 residential apartments at the site along with 11 parking spaces.
A supporting statement said the applicants purchased the buildings in early 2024, commencing works from the approved scheme that April/May, saying if they hadn’t been started the building would have fallen in to further disrepair.
An officer report recommending the certificate be granted said the buildings are currently vacant and in a deteriorating condition.
It said that, in order for planning permission to have been lawfully implemented, it would be necessary for development to have taken place within a specified timeframe, in this case five years following the August 7, 2019 permission.
“The applicant claims that the approved planning permission was within the required timeframe through the demolition of an external wall of the building referred to on the approved plans as ‘building 3’. The works were witnessed by a representative of a developer, evidenced by dated photographs (May 7, 2024).
“It is described that the works carried out were necessary and pursuant to the approved development with reference to the approved plans and drawings requiring the removal of the wall and associated alterations were required to create access to the proposed car park and facilitate installation of new steel beams and replacement masonry.
“The supporting statement concludes that the approved layout could not be constructed without the demolition/opening works being undertaken.”
It added it was needed to be established whether the development “constituted a lawful commencement to development in light of [a] breach of conditions,” a condition of the 2019 scheme requiring a Construction Environmental Management Plan, effectively dealing with potential pollution prevention, prior to its commencement.
Such a plan was not included until 2024, and a subsequent 2026 approved amendment allowing it to be reworded to during the works.
The report concluded: “Based on the information available, it is considered on the balance of probability that the development has lawfully commenced prior to the expiry date of the permission on August 6, 2024. It is therefore concluded that the certificate should be granted.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

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By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​