It took almost 50 years to get to planning but a development in a Pembrokeshire National Park has been given approval.
The £10m mixed-use development is being described as a potential ‘exemplar of rural development in Wales’.
The scheme named ‘Lawrenny Estate’, will see up to 39 new homes (of which seven will be affordable) a traffic-free village square and workshops built in the National Park village of Lawrenny.
The development will also see the construction of a biomass district heating system as well as improvements to existing village infrastructure.
The mixed-use residential development was part of a Europe-wide Royal Institute of British Architects competition to find a perfect design, filled with sustainable elements and in keeping with the village, which is situated in the 海角视频’s only coastal national park.
Adrian Lort-Phillips, director of the company behind the development, said: “Lawrenny is already a busy community, but we want to bolster its status as a rural centre in which families live, work and play. Its expansion, and the inclusion of offices and workshops, will help it to remain a living village and to support amenities so often lacking in communities in deeply rural areas."
It took 48 years for the original blueprint of the development to come forward for planning. “It’s essential to sustain our rural villages in Wales,” explained Adrian. “The idea that we could raise the bar for other Welsh rural developments is incredibly appealing. However, what’s most important is that we make it work for Lawrenny, our community and the National Park, and that’s why we took our time to get it right.”
Mr Lort-Phillips added: "Just when small villages, particularly ones in National Parks such as this, were hollowing out and losing the amenity they need to be sustainable, this one fought back,” continued Adrian. “We hope our growing community can demonstrate to others that a rural way of life, supported by busy, working rural centres such as Lawrenny, is part of the future of the countryside, not of the past.”
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The plans for Lawrenny Estate were highly commended by the Design Commission for Wales. In a 2017 DCfW review, it noted: "The landowner is to be credited for the strong, positive vision and strategy for the long-term development of the village and an attitude of stewardship. The architects similarly show a clarity of narrative and philosophy of design. The scheme presented at the review has the potential to be an exemplar of rural development in Wales".
Mr Lort-Phillips said they have enjoyed working with "talented professionals to create a highly considered proposal to continue the revitalisation of Lawrenny".
"We are grateful to our inspired architects Emmett Russell Architects and planning consultancy Atriarc Planning, that have worked tirelessly to ensure we don’t spoil the beauty and incredible culture of the village as we grow,” he added.
Lawrenny Estate is now looking to appoint a suitable design-to-build contractor and is exploring sustainable elements such as microgrids and community energy schemes that can be used in the scheme to support rural life and meet the expectations of modern homebuyers.
Lawrenny Estate ‘Phase One’ will start in 2019. It will include 17 new homes, of which 7 will be affordable, and the construction of 7 workspaces.