A fire-ravaged hotel in Pembroke Dock is set to be demolished to make way for affordable homes. The Cleddau Bridge Hotel has been derelict since a fire devastated the building in March 2019. Originally closed in January 2018, the closure resulted in 40 staff losing their jobs, with the owners citing a decline in tourism as a factor. A joint development deal has been struck between Castell Group Property Specialists and Pembrokeshire County Council, with plans for the construction of 35 affordable homes at the site.
The proposed development involves the demolition of the remaining hotel structure to make room for two-storey affordable housing units. The initial plan was for 38 units, but this number has been revised down to 35. The homes will consist of 16 one-bed units, 11 two-bed units, six three-bed units, and two four-bed units. A pre-application consultation period began on September 18 and will run until October 18, with a formal application to the council to follow.
Although a previous planning application had been submitted in 2022 for the demolition and construction of a residential care home on the site, permission was granted in 2023 for the alternative redevelopment as affordable housing. Investigations into the 2019 fire at the hotel determined it was started deliberately, but the police were unable to identify a suspect. The development marks a significant step towards repurposing the fire-damaged site into much-needed affordable housing for the community.