Thornsett Group

New Housing Plans May Change Town

Part of Milford Haven will be completely transformed if a multi-million pound housing development is given the go ahead.

Thornsett Group has applied to Pembrokeshire County Council to demolish Victoria Filling Station and build three blocks containing 75 one and two bedroom flats on Victoria Road. The company has also applied to restore the Grade II listed Old Quay Store and turn it into six flats, and has made a provision to designate 15 flats as affordable housing. The development will also provide one parking space per apartment, some of which will be underground.

General manager of Thornsett Group, David Cochlin, said "It will be absolutely wonderful and a real asset for Milford Haven. We think Milford Haven has a real future and we are not going to spend an awful lot of money on building apartments we don’t think we will be able to sell."

The Old Quay Store is currently in the process of being sold to Thornsett by Milford Docks Company. Engineering director of Milford Haven Port Authority, Andrew Brown, said: "We view this as an exciting development, which is putting the land to good use."

So far, the project has been welcomed by councillors, but concerns have been raised about the potential increase of traffic on an already busy road. Mayor of Milford Haven, Cllr Tony Miles, said: "My reaction is it will be a good thing and will tidy up the area. Obviously, it’s right on the main road and there will be a lot of traffic, which is a great concern. They will have to do something about the sharp bend because it would be a danger to children who will be living there."