Traveller site at Land at Froghall Yard, Moreton Lane, Saundersfoot

What was proposed

The application sought a traveller site with one static caravan, one touring caravan, a day or utility room, ecological enhancements and woodland creation.

“Ref No: NP/25/0536/FUL Proposal: The creation of one traveller site incorporating one static caravan, one touring caravan, one day/utility room & ecological enhancements & woodland creation on the surrounding land (partly retrospective) Site Location: Land at Froghall Yard, Moreton Lane, Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire, SA69 9JG”

Officer report

The site and its setting

The site is west of Saundersfoot in Landscape Character Area 1, beside a bridleway, with nearby homes and a sewage treatment works.

“Officer’s Appraisal 1. Site and Proposed Development The site is located to the west of Saundersfoot and falls within Landscape Character Area 1 – Saundersfoot Settled Coast. The site is also immediately adjacent to the Centre Boundary. Seven properties are located in close proximity to the application site, with five of them to the north-east within Incline Way, whose rear gardens back onto the site.”

“The application site covers approximately 1013 square metres and slopes gently from the north-west to the south-east. Moreton Lane also forms a Bridleway (42/44) with access from Saundersfoot to Valley Road and further west to the A478 road.”

Officer report

Earlier decisions and enforcement

A similar application was refused in May 2025, and enforcement action followed unauthorised works and caravan use, with an appeal dismissed.

“The current proposal seeks approval for a development consisting of a change of use of land for residential use as a traveller site incorporating one static caravan, one touring caravan and a detached day/utility room. The current description references ecological enhancements and notes that the development is partly retrospective. 2.”

“March 2024 following a report that a caravan was sited on the land. (New Landowner since the previous enforcement case). Unable to take enforcement action on the touring caravan until 28 days had lapsed. Further reports informed us that drainage was being installed.”

Officer report

Why officers recommended refusal

Officers considered the landscape already had no capacity for new caravan development and that clearance had caused potential habitat and biodiversity harm.

“The proposed site is within a Landscape Character Area (LCA1), which has been assessed as having no further capacity to accommodate new caravan development (Caravan, Camping and Chalet Supplementary Planning Guidance, adopted May 2021). The proposal comprises one static caravan and one touring caravan, together with an associated utility room, all for residential use.”

“There has also been significant site clearance undertaken prior to the submission of the application, and the impact on the landscape, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience has been assessed as potentially negative, with uncertainty about the definitive impact due to the lack of a baseline assessment prior to clearance.”

Officer report

Need weighed against harm

Countywide accommodation need remained, but there was no identified National Park need and the applicant had existing accommodation and was not homeless.

“Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs in Pembrokeshire 17 LDP 2, policy 53, criterion a) requires the demonstration that there are no suitable pitches available within existing authorised sites or land available within existing settlement limits. Information from Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC) Housing Department (January 2026) states that there are 82 local authority-managed pitches in Pembrokeshire.”

“The GTAA 2019 identified an immediate need for nine residential pitches over the 2019 to 2024 period, with a net additional need of 30 pitches over the 2025 to 2033 period. The locations identified by people in need are generally in the south of the county, with Haverfordwest the farthest to the north. There is no specific identified need for pitches in the National Park.”

Officer report

Consultees and public views

The community council objected, the ecologist recommended refusal, and residents raised concerns about landscape, ecology, access, drainage and amenity.

“Landscape • Significant harm to the landscape, character, biodiversity and amenity of this part of the National Park • Lack of landscape capacity for further caravan development • Policy 41 and the supporting SPG on caravan development do apply to all caravan development, including Gypsy and Traveller sites within the National Park, and should be considered in assessing landscape capacity.”

“No safe and direct access/highway safety concerns • Access will cut across the path of the new Active Travel Route currently being created by PCC. • 200m between the site access and the public highway • Moreton Lane is a very narrow road with limited opportunities for traffic to pass through; it is a footpath/bridleway. • No information on anticipated visitors and likely traffic/trip impacts from friends/family.”

Officer report

Who spoke

An objector spoke for residents, a Travelling Ahead representative supported the proposal, and the agent argued for approval or deferment.

The committee’s decision

The committee carried the motion to refuse because of landscape impact, biodiversity and otter habitat concerns, and development in an area without landscape capacity.

“The proposed development has resulted in unacceptable landscape impact on the National Park and potentially disturbed species and habitats within the countryside. The proposal would not be compatible with the National Park's purpose of conserving and enhancing its natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage, nor would it protect its Special Qualities or its landscape. The application also fails to demonstrate a Net Benefit for Biodiversity.”

“The proposal would introduce caravan development in an area of the National Park without landscape capacity, resulting in unacceptable cumulative impacts that are contrary to Policy 41: Caravan, Camping and Chalet Development and the adopted Caravan, Camping and Chalet Supplementary Planning Guidance.”

Minutes