PLANS for a Pembrokeshire holiday development at the site of a former pony trekking and zorbing activity centre, which had to stop due to the impact of the Covid pandemic, have been lodged with the national park.
Zorbing is a sports activity rolling downhill inside an orb, usually made of see-through plastic.
In an application to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Lawson and Penny Owen, through agent Hayston Developments & Planning Ltd, seek a partly-retrospective permission for nine self-contained holiday units and a twin-unit shepherd’s hut, along with associated works, on land south of Nolton Stables, Nolton, Haverfordwest.
A supporting statement says: “There are two distinct elements to the proposal with the larger being the provision of five pods and four lodges which will be accessed by a farm track which leads south towards a former quarry and thence to the shoreline,” adding: “The second and smaller element involves contains a virtually flat area with a separate but adjacent access from the local highway on which a 12 space car park is proposed together with the retention of a Shepherd’s Hut (a unit of holiday accommodation) and its separate garden and parking area.”
The retrospective element refers to a park enforcement officer informing the applicant of a breach in planning control for the shepherd’s hut.
The statement says the Shepherd’s Hut is the most suitable for those with limited mobility as it does not require use of the unpaved track to a pod or lodge.
The total development amounts to only a small proportion of the circa 400 acres across four farms all of which are in the ownership of a partnership comprising two brothers (of which Mr Lawson Owen is one) and their respective families.
The statement adds: “The income from the proposed holiday accommodation will form a smaller proportion than that derived from the agricultural activities undertaken across the four farms – an example of farm diversification where the agricultural activities remain the major element.
“In previous years the applicants operated a pony trekking enterprise and a Zorbing activity as part of a farm diversification strategy.
“Unfortunately, Covid required the cessation of both activities and therefore both a loss of income for the Partnership as well local jobs for those in the Nolton community.”
It says the applicants have previously operated a 2.3 acre campsite which has been managed as an exempted site under license from the Camping and Caravanning Club for over five years, an outside cinema for up to 28 days per year for a period in excess of five years, and the Zorbing experience, and the applicants are considering modifying an existing building within the Nolton Stables complex as a wedding venue.
It concluded: “It should also be noted that this proposal is in substitution for the operation of a successful pony trekking enterprise and a smaller scale Zorbing activity both of which had to be abandoned because of Covid-19 and the associated requirements to minimise personal contact.
“The applicants have a history of diversification of their farming activities in and around Nolton. It is anticipated that this new enterprise will restore those jobs lost due to Covid and hopefully increase opportunities both in the construction industry and in hospitality.”
The application will be considered by park planners at a later date.
