Support for £10m Welshpool care project

Powys County Council (PCC) will be handing over its ailing Neaudd Maldwyn building for free to a care company that will invest over £10 million to turn it into a much needed care facility.

The listed building has become unfit for purpose, and PCC will be moving its staff to other locations in the town, including the library which has not gone down well with a large section of the town.

Once the staff transfers have been completed, the building will be handed over to ClwydAlyn under a partnership arrangement that will see the company turn it into the ‘Extra Care’ accommodation.

The arrangement has been supported today by the PCC cabinet subject to a further report confirming the viability of the scheme.

Extra Care schemes provide an independent living option where older people can live in their own self-contained home while accessing a wide range of communal facilities and access to personal care support packages

Corporate Director for Children and Adult Services, Ali Bulman, said: “Extra Care accommodation is recognised as an excellent way of supporting people in their own communities, providing them with the care they need without having to move into residential care.

“A review of older people’s accommodation in Powys has identified Welshpool as a priority area for the development of Extra Care. A gap analysis found that the town has significant demand for such a service with little or no facilities to meet the need.

“Neuadd Maldwyn is a convenient level, town centre site with excellent transport links opportunities that has huge potential to be converted into exciting extra care accommodation serving the town and surrounding areas.

“Working with ClwydAlyn we believe we have a golden opportunity to create something very special and address a known demand for community based services.” 

Craig Sparrow, Executive Director of Development for ClwydAlyn, said: “ClwydAlyn are delighted to be involved and working in partnership with Powys over this innovative scheme which will benefit people across the whole county for generations to come.

“There will be full consultation and we look forward to meeting all involved as this exciting scheme progresses. The plan is to create in the region of 60 self-contained apartments built on the site which will be sympathetically designed incorporating the listed buildings subject to planning permission.”

There has been considerable controversy surrounding the news that staff from Neuadd Maldwyn will move into the library, which will see its services downgraded and moved to the Museum. More than 4,000 people signed a petition opposing the move.