A retrospective application to modify the use of holiday lodges at Canaston Oaks, a holiday site located near Narberth in Pembrokeshire, is expected to receive approval during the Pembrokeshire County Council planning committee meeting scheduled for July 29.
The proposal, submitted by owners Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, seeks to allow a hybrid use of two holiday lodges, enabling both self-catering and serviced accommodation options.
Canaston Oaks is situated at Canaston Bridge off the A40, within a cluster of tourism attractions and accommodations, including the nearby Bluestone resort.
The site has earned multiple Visit Wales Gold Awards and offers five-star luxury accommodation. The application covers a change of use for lodges identified as Unit 1 and Unit 2, which are already constructed and located around a lake within the established site.
According to Herald.Wales, the change responds to customer demand and logistical considerations.
A supporting statement from Harries Planning Design Management explains, “Canaston Oaks currently offers Gold Award-winning five-star luxury accommodation to its customers and is seeking to develop its facilities in line with customer demand, to broaden its overall offer on site.”
The statement also notes the limited availability of nearby amenities, with supermarkets and restaurants located more than three miles away.
The proposed change would involve adding basic kitchenettes to the lodges, allowing for self-catering use.
“Often families and couples staying at their lodges arrive at varying times of the day and night, and as such, the applicant wishes for their customers to be able to offer self-catering, comparable to their neighbouring Bluestone resort,” the statement adds.
No external modifications are proposed to accommodate the internal changes.
The existing hub building at Canaston Oaks currently provides on-site breakfast and evening meals. By introducing a hybrid lodging model, the applicants aim to expand accommodation options and extend the seasonality of the business.
The planning officer’s report recommends approval of the retrospective application, stating that although the lodges were originally approved as serviced units, the shift to a self-catering model would also align with local planning policies.
“The lodges were approved as an extension to the existing serviced accommodation, but if the original development had been for self-catering accommodation, the lodges would have been an acceptable extension,” the report notes.
For outdoor hospitality business owners, this case highlights the operational flexibility that can be achieved by offering hybrid accommodation options.
The model may serve as a strategy for extending occupancy rates year-round and adapting to evolving guest expectations, particularly in rural areas with limited nearby amenities.