**Cost Soars for Pembroke’s South Quay Visitor Centre and Hub, Surpassing £27 Million**
The cost of an ambitious regeneration initiative underway at South Quay, Pembroke, has sharply increased, with projected spending now exceeding £27.5 million. This major development, situated in the shadow of the town’s iconic castle, is being led by Pembrokeshire County Council in partnership with Andrew Scott Ltd. The project, initially estimated at £18 million, has since advanced through two distinct phases, each with its own funding channels and objectives.
Phase one of the South Quay scheme is primarily funded by the Welsh Government and will see the construction of a new Henry Tudor visitor centre, a modern library and information hub, a café, and landscaped gardens designed to enhance both the aesthetic and communal value of the site. This first stage is seen as a catalyst for boosting local tourism and community engagement, reflecting the council’s commitment to revitalising key heritage assets.
The second phase, known locally as the ‘Pembroke Hwb’ and supported by the UK Government’s Levelling Up Fund as well as continued Welsh Government investment, is set to transform existing derelict properties on Northgate Street into a multi-purpose community building. This facility will span three storeys and is intended to support not just independent living for residents across all age groups, but also provide job opportunities for people with disabilities.
The plans further include flexible spaces dedicated to daytime activities, alongside learning and skills development programmes. Notably, the wide-ranging blueprint for South Quay has environmental sustainability embedded throughout, with explicit aims to improve the local streetscape and public realm.
During a July meeting of Pembrokeshire Council, attention turned firmly to the scheme’s mounting costs when Councillor Alan Dennison submitted a question seeking clarification on both capital expenditures and the value of any grant awards secured for the project. Council leader Jon Harvey, responding on behalf of the cabinet member for regeneration, Paul Miller, confirmed that the second phase alone stood at nearly £17.7 million, with anticipated completion set for July 2026.
Councillors were told that, in total, capital costs for the project have now reached £27,502,978. According to officials, this figure is partially offset by four substantial grant awards, amounting to £16,743,823. These grants are viewed as a vital source of external investment that will help to ease the burden on Pembrokeshire ratepayers and accelerate the town’s rejuvenation efforts.
Responding to concerns about the project’s escalating price tag, Councillor Harvey was keen to stress the significance of the grant funding, as well as the broader context of the scheme. He remarked, “Let’s not forget these were derelict buildings in a prized area of town that had stood empty and neglected for years.” He went on to highlight that the current administration’s proactive stance represented a marked shift from previous approaches, aiming to transform dormant structures into vibrant, multi-use assets for both visitors and locals.
Harvey further explained that the two-phase approach is designed not only to foster tourism and community spirit through the visitor centre, but also to deliver much-needed social services from the new hub. The council leader pointed out that, beyond the immediate cultural and economic advantages, the upgraded facilities are expected to deliver estimated savings of £900,000 per year in social services expenditure.
Observers across Pembroke have welcomed the prospect of new amenities and a revitalised waterfront, even as questions regarding financial oversight and long-term value for money persist. Local leaders maintain that, by attracting significant inward investment and restoring heritage buildings, the project has the potential to generate social and economic benefits for decades to come.
As work continues on the South Quay regeneration, the spotlight will remain fixed on the council’s ability to deliver upon its promises within the revised budget, while ensuring that the transformation lives up to community expectations. For many, the outcome of this multi-million pound venture could signal a new chapter in Pembroke’s long and storied history.