PLANS to bring a former hotel in Pembroke Dock back to life have been approved by the county council’s planning committee.

At a meeting on Tuesday (December 16), councillors voted unanimously in favour of the plans, which include refurbishment of the Commodore Hotel in Admiralty Way, which has lain empty for many years.

The application also includes plans to convert a stable block at the back of the hotel into five self-contained maisonettes, and the building of 22 flats and four town houses.

Praising the application, Councillor Brian Hall said it was “essential” the area was developed, adding that a new hotel was needed to accommodate ferry passengers.

Speaking against the plans was Adrian James, who despite delight at plans to renovate the Commodore had concerns that the height of the flats would destroy the 'iconic view of Pembroke Dock'.

He said the town had waited a long time for a developer, but the authority should not rush to approve a plan that was not right for the area.

Cllr Jacob Williams said the site would “never realistically going to be brought back to what it was 200 years ago”, and that some heritage would be lost with any development.

Referring to the flats, he said any developer taking on the site would need “something in it for them”.

Despite being given the thumbs-up from councillors, there is still another hurdle for the developers to clear before work can begin.

An application for listed building consent, which has been submitted alongside the request for planning permission, has drawn criticism from Pembroke Dock Civic Society and the Georgian Group.