A call to change a commercially unprofitable holiday cottage to a permanent home has been given the go-ahead by Pembrokeshire’s national park.
Mark Davies, through agent Heath Coombe, applied to change Grove Cottage at 15 Grove Road, St Ishmaels, from a two-bedroom holiday let into a permanent home.
A supporting statement said: “The proposal seeks to facilitate the continued viable use of the property through its occupation as a permanent residential dwelling.
“The application arises from the limited commercial viability of the property as holiday accommodation, and its potential contribution towards meeting local housing demand within the national park area.
“The proposal does not involve any external alterations or physical changes to the building and therefore the character, appearance and visual amenity of the site and surrounding area would remain unaffected.”
It added: “While the property has been available for holiday use, there has been insufficient demand and rental uptake to sustain a commercially viable operation over the longer term. Occupancy rates and associated income have not provided a sustainable basis for the continuation of the existing use.
“As a result, the continuation of the property solely as holiday accommodation is increasingly difficult to justify in practical and economic terms.”
It went on to say: “The proposal would not result in the loss of a viable tourism enterprise. The property has experienced limited rental demand, and the continuation of the current use cannot reasonably be considered sustainable over the long term.
“Retention of a non-performing holiday use would provide limited economic benefit, whereas occupation as a permanent dwelling would provide a more meaningful contribution toward community sustainability.”
An officer’s report recommending approval said the bungalow was built after planning permission was granted in 2017, with a condition “prohibiting its use as a person’s sole or main residence,” forming “a discrete residential unit within the northwest of the curtilage formally associated with 15 Grove Road.”
It said a £9,000 commuted sum would be paid towards affordable housing.
It added: “The proposed change of use is deemed to satisfy policy requirements and does not entail any internal or external alterations to the property, aside from green infrastructure and biodiversity enhancement features.
“The property’s proposed change of use is not considered likely to give rise to any adverse effects on the amenity of neighbouring dwellings. No third-party representations have been received to date regarding the application, and no statutory consultees have raised any principal objections against the proposed scheme. Accordingly, officers have recommended the application for approval, subject to conditions and a legal agreement.”
In a recent similar application, which has yet to be decided, the owner of six loss-making holiday lets at Talbenny Hall Holiday Cottages, Talbenny, is seeking permission from the national park for them to become full-time homes.
A statement accompanying that application says that business “very quickly became completely financially unviable to operate as a holiday cottage lettings business and is now operating at a loss”.
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