The controversial £6 million development, which includes 48 holiday lodges, a spa, apartments, a café, and equestrian facilities, has been temporarily paused while planners await updated guidance on water quality regulations.
Originally approved by Pembrokeshire County Council in late 2023, the development was hailed by its backers as a boost to the local economy, promising to create 44 jobs. Councillors voted 37 to 16 in favour of the scheme, despite repeated recommendations for refusal from planning officers who cited conflicts with the Local Development Plan (LDP), particularly the site’s location outside a designated settlement area.
However, the approval was successfully challenged in the High Court by the Stepaside and Pleasant Valley Residents’ Group (SPVRG Ltd), who argued that the council had failed to adequately consider key planning principles. In March 2025, Judge Jarman KC ruled that the council’s decision did not sufficiently address issues of countryside development, sustainability, and the potential precedent it could set for future applications. The ruling quashed the original approval, forcing developers Heritage Leisure Development (Wales) Ltd to resubmit their application.
The revised application, submitted through planning agents Lichfields, is largely identical to the original but includes a detailed justification aimed at addressing the court’s concerns. Lichfields argues that the development is a “bespoke offering” with “unique circumstances” that should not be seen as setting a precedent. They maintain that councillors can lawfully approve the scheme even if it conflicts with the LDP.
Despite these assurances, opposition remains strong. Kilgetty and Begelly Community Council has formally objected to the revised plans, echoing concerns about overdevelopment, ecological sensitivity, and inadequate infrastructure. Amroth Community Council has also reiterated its opposition and called for the application to be “called in” for review by Planning and Environment Decisions Wales.
Further complicating matters, Natural Resources Wales has raised alarms over water quality in the nearby Pembrokeshire and Carmarthen Bay Marine Special Area of Conservation. Planners have been advised that it would be “potentially unsound” to make a decision on the application until more information is available, effectively delaying any progress.
The site, located near the historic remains of the 19th-century Stepaside ironworks and colliery, has long been a point of contention between developers and local residents. Critics argue that the proposed expansion would disrupt the character of the valley, harm local wildlife, and place undue strain on rural infrastructure.
With the application now on hold and no clear timeline for a decision, the future of the Heritage Park development remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the battle over Stepaside’s future is far from over.
