A refused scheme for a takeaway food kiosk at a former lifeboat store in Tenby’s seaside harbour, has now been allowed following a successful appeal.
At the March 2025 development management committee, Ruby Goodrick sought permission from Pembrokeshire Coast National Park planners to turn the old RNLI lifeboat store, Penniless Cove, Tenby Harbour, into a takeaway cold food outlet, open 10am-10pm seven days a week.
The application came before committee members rather than an officer decision as Tenby Town Council objected, and was recommended for approval despite being a departure from the adopted development plan.
However, members voted by 12 in favour to three against approval.
Since then, the applicant lodged an appeal with Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW), Ruby Goodrick in her statement saying: “The application was refused on the basis that the proposed use is located outside the defined town centre boundary and therefore is contrary [to policies]. However, as outlined in the planning officer’s own assessment, the building is situated approximately 25 metres outside of the defined retail centre and is a use that would otherwise be considered acceptable within that centre.”
It added: “Furthermore, there are already existing local businesses at Tenby Harbour that are allowed to operate without issue. These businesses demonstrate that commercial use in the area, including food-related enterprises, does not adversely affect the surrounding environment or the special qualities of the National Park.”
The Inspector’s report which allowed the appeal, granting permission, focused on “whether the development would be an appropriate use within this location, the impact on the character and appearance of the area, and whether it would affect Tenby Conservation Area”.
It said that, although the site was just outside the town centre “I consider that a small scale cold food takeaway outlet in this location would not undermine the town centre of Tenby or its retail function and would not have any impact on its future viability and vitality,” adding: “To the contrary, the development would complement the role of the town centre by contributing to having a mix of uses within this edge of centre location, which is encouraged within Future Wales.”
On objections raised about a potential conflict between customers and other harbour users it said: “Whilst there would be instances of queuing outside the premises at busier times I am not persuaded that this would cause conflict with other users of the harbour or cause any hazard with harbour vehicles; the Highways Authority raised no objections to the scheme.”
On potential impacts on the Conservation Area and Tenby Castle, the Inspector noted concerns raised but said it “would not result in any visual impact on the historic harbour area or be unsympathetically sited within this historic landscape”.
The report also said, in terms of waste generation “the addition of another small premises would not have a detrimental impact on refuse levels in the area”.
After considering all the issues, the Inspector’s final conclusion stated: “Having regard to the above and considered all other matters raised by interested parties, I conclude that the appeal should be allowed. Planning permission for the takeaway cold food outlet at the former RNLI lifeboat store has therefore been granted.”
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