Holiday Pod Approval Completes Farm Diversification Scheme Spanning Two Pembrokeshire Sites

A call to keep a holiday pod sited on a Pembrokeshire farm, as part of a wider holiday pod farm diversification over two areas which saw the larger part supported, has been approved by county planners.

In an application given delegated approval at the June meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee, Bill Ridge of Vaynor Farm Ltd, Bethesda, through agent Gerald Blain Associates Limited, sought retrospective permission to keep a self-catering pod at Broomley Farm, Sodston, Narberth, works having been completed in 2022.

The application is part of a wider scheme of holiday pods diversification encompassing two farms.

Back in December 2025, Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee granted delegated retrospective permission to Vaynor Farm Ltd for the siting of two self-catering holiday accommodation pods at The Cart House, Vaynor Farm, Bethesda, near Narberth as part of a farm diversification enterprise.

A supporting statement accompanying the latest application said: “Vaynor farm is a 400-acre working dairy farm with a herd of 700 milking cows. The enterprise comprises of three self-catering pods. Two of the pods are situated at the Vaynor homestead and another at the opposite end of the holding at Broomley farm.

“The first unit was sited adjacent to Vaynor farm stead some four years ago and a further two added in subsequent years. The units have enjoyed successful occupancy rates over several years offering a unique secluded tourism offer on a working dairy farm, more detail of which is outlined within the supporting business plan.”

It said the Broomley farm application before committee was a resubmission of a previously refused scheme, adding: “It should be noted that this application was originally part of [the application] which was recommended approval at planning committee in December 2025. This element however was separated due to its location on another part of Vaynor farm deeming it not possible to be considered under the same application.”

At the December meeting, an officer report said: “A business plan has been submitted with [that] application, which explains that due to uncertainties associated with dairy farming, the applicant has sought to diversify the farm enterprise to incorporate tourism accommodation.”

An officer report accompanying the latest application for members said: “The development of the accommodation pod has led to positive economic and social impacts, evidence has clearly demonstrated how income from the accommodation pods is used to support the overall combined Broomley Farm and Vaynor Farm enterprise.

“The proposed location of the accommodation pod is not considered to have led to an unacceptable impact on the character and appearance of the area given their siting adjacent to the Broomley Farm farmstead complex.”

Members backed the head of planning being given delegated powers to approve the scheme subject to a Section 106 legal agreement and conditions including the pod be limited to short-term holiday use only.