Plans for a £2 million development of wheelchair-accessible holiday lodges at a Pembrokeshire deer park, home to animals from the Queen’s estate, have been withdrawn.
The application, submitted by Mr. and Mrs. Evans to Pembrokeshire County Council, sought approval for 15 lodges at Great Wedlock, Gumfreston, near Tenby. The 176-acre deer farm attraction, which opened last year, had recently been granted permission for a market traders’ barn.
However, at the July 23 meeting of the Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, the application was recommended for refusal by council officers.
In a supporting statement, the Evanses expressed their long-standing commitment to developing holiday parks, starting in Pembrokeshire in 1976 and expanding throughout the UK. They returned to Pembrokeshire to develop the deer park and proposed the wheelchair-accessible lodges to enhance their business and benefit the local economy.
“In 2020, we purchased Great Wedlock Farm and applied for planning permission to open it to the public as a new tourism destination,” they stated. “The deer, sourced from Woburn Abbey and the late Queen’s estate, ensure high-quality breeding stock. We opened the deer park in May 2023, focusing on facilities for disabled persons and the elderly.”
The park features disability-friendly amenities, including a specially adapted MPV for safaris, electric buggies, and trailers for wheelchair users.
The Evanses highlighted the growing demand for accessible holiday accommodations and planned to use Quality Pods Wales, based in Pembroke Dock, to supply the lodges. They emphasized their commitment to supporting the local economy, noting the development’s estimated cost of £2 million would significantly benefit local suppliers and contractors, bringing their total investment at the site to £10 million, funded entirely by their own resources.
Despite the proposal, St. Florence Community Council did not support the application, citing a lack of demonstrated need for the accommodation, potential negative impacts on existing holiday facilities, and concerns that the design did not cater to all disability groups.
Additionally, a letter raised concerns about road safety, suggesting the development could lead to increased traffic accidents on the nearby main road.
Council planners recommended refusal for several reasons, including the site’s location outside an identified settlement boundary, potential adverse impacts on visual amenity, the absence of a Green Infrastructure statement, and a lack of proposed biodiversity enhancements.
At the beginning of the July meeting, it was announced that the application had been withdrawn at the agent’s request.