The outdoor sauna at Saundersfoot harbour in Pembrokeshire must leave the site after planners rejected an application for it to remain permanently. The decision by Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority overturned strong local support, including a petition signed by 558 residents and visitors.
Temporary permission not extended
In June 2024, the national park's development management committee granted temporary two-year permission for the mobile wood-fired sauna, owned by Kerry Evans of Hwyl Outdoor Sauna. Evans then applied to make the placement permanent, but officers recommended refusal, and the committee upheld that recommendation at its meeting on Wednesday.
The supporting statement for the application said the sauna had "become a popular and valued amenity for both residents and visitors, offering a space focussed on health, wellbeing and community connection." It added: "The overall sentiment within the village has been strongly supportive with many residents recognising the sauna as a valuable asset that enhances the amenities in Saundersfoot."
Reasons for refusal
Officers concluded that the sauna "in its current form and with the proposed location ... is considered to result in a landscape impact that harms the setting of the Saundersfoot conservation area." They also noted it "is located in a position which reduces public access along the existing promenade route" and that an updated flood consequences assessment, required since the previous permission, had not been addressed.
The report highlighted that while the 2024 application found no unacceptable adverse effects on the National Park's landscape and seascape character, the new application included a retrospective booking office, increasing the amount of development beyond the temporary permission.
Community and business impact
Kerry Evans described the sauna as a "successful local business" that had drawn thousands of visitors and fostered community, contributing to charities and local fundraising. She said the location was "fundamental to its success," offering users "privacy and dignity" with spectacular views across the bay. "For many first-time customers that first time when they step in [to the sauna] and look at the waves rolling in is unforgettable," she said.
Former county councillor Phil Baker highlighted the nearly 600-signature petition and a national park award recognising the sauna's role in harbour redevelopment. Current councillor Chris Williams noted that the sauna was relocated during hazardous weather and that there had not been "a single complaint from residents or local businesses" regarding obstruction.
Precedent concerns and alternative sites
Cllr Micheal Williams, who seconded the refusal recommendation, cautioned that approval would set a precedent that could be "used as a weapon for applicants and agents in the future," with members bearing responsibility to safeguard "the historic cove of Saundersfoot." Committee chair Cllr Simon Hancock stated: "We all desperately want this business to continue, but in a location that reflects the concerns of the national park." Officers suggested potential alternative positioning within the harbour vicinity, though the existing site could establish a precedent for other locations such as Tenby or Newport's Parrog.
Evans argued that other sections of the harbour remained a "working harbour" and that the sauna was positioned beside the beach-side railings to prevent people from "staring in" at users. The committee voted overwhelmingly in favour of refusal.
