Haverfordwest: No tenants for site where skeletons found

Hundreds of remains and artefacts were unearthed in 2022

No businesses have confirmed they will lease a site where 240 skeletons were found that is being redeveloped for £12m to revitalise a town centre.

Pembrokeshire County Council wants to open a food emporium, a restaurant, bar and roof-top terrace at the Ocky White development in Haverfordwest.

But the council's deputy leader said in a meeting they were a "bit behind" on finding businesses.

The discovery of the ancient remains pushed up costs by about £2m.

The original budget was £6m but costs had gone up due to coronavirus, the war in Ukraine alongside last year's archaeological discovery, the council said.

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During the meeting earlier, councillors were told the aim was to open the facility in summer 2024.

It was due to open at the end of this year.

Deputy leader Paul Miller said the council had received "a positive number of expressions of interest" but "no one has signed on the dotted line yet".

He admitted the council was a "bit behind" on securing tenants.

Conservative councillor Diane Clements said that she was hoping that contracts had been secured by now.

Ocky White was a popular shopping mainstay for more than a century before its riverside premises closed in 2013

Mr Miller said a mixture of local and national businesses had expressed interest and discussions were now at a "more formal stage".

He added that the £12m budget for the development included fit out costs for the building and the contracted works had finished on time.

The next stage of the project is due to start shortly.

Mr Miller told the meeting: "2024 is going to be the year when everyone starts to see it come together and recognise that the town is changing significantly and for the better."

In October 2022 the remains of more than 240 people, including children, were unearthed by archaeologists.

Archaeologists believe the ruins are from St Saviour's Priory, founded in about 1256, and a "window into medieval Haverfordwest", according to one expert.

It is believed that the graveyard could have been used until the early 18th Century.