A six-unit glamping and tourism development in North Pembrokeshire has received planning approval following a site visit by Pembrokeshire County Council planning committee members, with conditions linked to wastewater treatment works remaining a key part of the decision.
Zoe Delaney, represented by agent JMS Planning & Development Ltd, applied for permission to change the use of land north of Cwm Plysgog, Cilgerran, for a tourism site. The approved proposal includes six self-catering holiday units comprising two geodesic domes, two yurts, and two bell tents.
The development will also include decking areas, a new access track from the highway, parking, a shower and toilet block, pathways, and landscaping.
The application was considered again by the planning committee after members unanimously agreed in September to visit the site before making a final decision. The site visit followed concerns raised during the earlier consideration of the proposal, including questions about access and the ability of local infrastructure to accommodate the development.
Cilgerran Community Council had objected to the application over issues including traffic, parking, access, noise, residential amenity, the character of the area, and drainage and sewerage capacity. Seventeen public objections were also submitted, raising similar concerns. The council’s highways department, however, did not object to the proposal.
Wastewater capacity was a particular consideration because of the proximity of the development to the River Teifi Special Area of Conservation. The council’s ecologist previously carried out an Appropriate Assessment, which was also reviewed by Natural Resources Wales.
According to The Pembrokeshire Herald, the assessment identified potential effects associated with increased nutrient output linked to failures in the flow passed forward at Cilgerran Wastewater Treatment Works. Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water confirmed that the facility was not meeting its target levels and was required to undertake improvement works to bring it back into compliance. The works were expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Planning officers subsequently recommended a condition preventing the development’s facilities from draining to Cilgerran Wastewater Treatment Works until the required improvements had been completed.
At the September meeting, local member Cllr John T Davies questioned whether the proposed access was adequate and expressed concern about relying on the timetable for the Welsh Water works. Fellow local councillor Iwan Ward also raised concerns about access. Members then agreed to visit the site before the application returned to the committee.
Following the site visit, the committee approved the development subject to the conditions attached to the planning permission, including the restriction related to wastewater treatment capacity.
For outdoor hospitality operators, the decision highlights how wastewater infrastructure and environmental capacity can influence the timing and operating conditions of new accommodation projects.
In areas connected to sensitive waterways or conservation designations, developers may need to account for infrastructure upgrades and environmental assessments alongside the design, access, and accommodation elements of a project.
For operators planning new glamping units, infrastructure capacity can therefore affect not only whether permission is granted, but also when approved accommodation can begin operating.
