Plans for the development of a gin distillery in St Davids, which happens to be Wales’ smallest city, are anticipated to face rejection by the Pembrokeshire National Park authorities in the coming days. The proposed distillery is located at St Davids Distillery, Restaurant & Rooms on Nun Street and has sparked concerns among objectors about potential risks such as death, injuries, and property damage.
Last year, the initial application for a change of use at the guest house to accommodate the distillery, bar, and restaurant was denied by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park planners due to various concerns raised by 23 respondents. These concerns included the intensified use of the bar, impact on the local environment, and safety issues related to the installation of a still and the use of ethanol, which raised fears of fire and explosion risks.
Despite the support from St Davids City Council, the resubmitted plans are likely to be turned down once more. The revised proposal involves using part of the property as both a bed and breakfast and a portion of the gin distillery plant for processing gin distillations. However, the storage of ethanol and botanicals off-site raises questions about the practicality of the proposed measures to control the associated risks.
Furthermore, objections to the plans highlighted concerns over potential hazards, noise, traffic, and lack of privacy in the area. The authorities also expressed doubts about the enforceability of any conditions restricting the distillery’s operation to specific days within a year. As a result, the recommendation for refusal is based on the conclusion that the proposed development is incompatible with the location and lacks adequate measures to address health and safety issues.
The decision on the fate of the gin distillery project is expected to be made during the upcoming meeting of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park’s development management committee on October 16. Despite the aspirations of the project, the concerns raised by both authorities and local residents point towards a potential setback for the proposed development in the historic city of St Davids.