Scheme For Making Caravan Site Smaller But ‘Higher Quality’

Plans to redevelop a Pembrokeshire caravan site to create “a notably higher quality” facility which will actually see less pitches have been submitted.

In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Hean Castle Estate seeks permission for the redevelopment and extension of the existing Rowston Holiday Park, New Hedges, near Tenby, including the installation of bases for the siting of caravans; demolition of buildings; and the conversion of an agricultural barn to a residential dwelling, along with associated works.

Alongside Rowston, Hean Castle Estate owns and manages land and property locally including nearby Scar Farm Holiday Park with 145 owner-occupied static holiday homes and Coppet Hall Beach Centre, as well as agricultural, forestry and residential properties.

The proposals will see the actual number of holiday accommodation pitches at Rowston decrease from 225 to 187, “while making significant environmental enhancements to landscaping, visual effects, biodiversity and the highway network,” the applicants say.

A supporting statement through agent Lichfields says: “Substantial investment will be made by Hean Castle Estate that will result in the removal of dense and visually prominent caravans in linear layouts which will be replaced with lower density, relaxed layouts of muted colours that are embedded within extensive new native tree and hedgerow planting.

“The shift to create a notably higher quality caravan park will attract new and repeat visitors across most of the year, reinforcing the tourist accommodation offer in the National Park, in line with the objectives of the Local Development Plan.”

It says Rowston was previously operated by a third party under lease but its layout no longer meets “the demands of the modern tourism industry, and the lack of any substantial landscaping on the Park means that it does not fit with the estate’s ethos of maintaining a working landscape”.

It adds: “Hean Castle Estate aspires for Rowston Holiday Park to provide an attractive, well-landscaped retreat with mature trees and hedgerows. The static caravans would be sold to private owners and would not be available for sublet.”

The proposed development includes the removal of the remaining existing bases, and installation of new bases for the siting of 172 static caravans across the existing holiday park and proposed extension area, with 95 bases in the existing park and 77 in the extension area, 15 touring pitch bases in the existing park, the demolition of former laundrette and diner buildings, demolition of two agricultural buildings, the conversion of a barn to manager accommodation, the creation of 273 parking spaces, and other works.

The application will be considered by park planners at a later date.