News

Plans approved for modern care accommodation in Mountain Ash

Turley has secured planning consent for a modern development to provide care accommodation for older people in Mountain Ash – including 25 new extra care apartments, 15 dementia care beds, and eight ‘Later Living’ bungalows.

We provided expert Planning services on behalf of Linc Cymru (Linc), who were granted planning permission for the exciting scheme on Thursday, 15 August, by the Planning and Development Committee. The council and Linc are working together to modernise care accommodation for older people in Rhondda Cynon Taf, and the Mountain Ash scheme is one of four included in a multi-million-pound investment programme agreed last year. The other schemes are planned for Treorchy, Ferndale, and Church Village.

The planning application sought full permission to build a specialist residential development on the former Pavilion site off Darran Road – plus access, parking and landscaping works. The ‘Later Living’ bungalows are earmarked for the eastern part of the site (above Foundry Terrace), with the extra care and dementia care housing included within a 3-storey block building on the western part of the site (below Bryn Ifor).

The apartments and residential care accommodation will be spread across the three floors of the main building with communal facilities and utilities located on the ground floor. The site’s area is approximately 0.92 hectares – it was formerly occupied by factory buildings and a large pavilion that have since been demolished. The development’s design will include provision to promote biodiversity and include features that will support sustainable urban drainage.

A report to the meeting on 15 August recommended the application for approval, noting the development’s principle to provide a form of accommodation that is in high demand on land that had previously been developed.

Councillor Gareth Caple, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said:

“I’m delighted that proposals to create new modern care accommodation in Mountain Ash has secured planning consent, enabling this exciting development to progress towards its construction phase. It will bring vacant brownfield land back into use, and continue our significant investment in care facilities for older people – by providing 25 extra care apartments, 15 dementia care beds, and eight ‘Later Living’ bungalows.

“This scheme in Mountain Ash is the latest example of us delivering upon our commitment, in partnership with Linc, to modernise care facilities and increase the number of extra care beds in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Extra care provides 24/7 support for older people’s assessed needs, creates a community within each building, and encourages meaningful engagement within the wider local community – helping people to stay independent for as long as possible.

“Our most-recent developments in Aberaman and Graig are established as popular community hubs, while a third scheme in Porth is currently being built. Looking to the future, Cabinet also agreed a multi-million pound programme to build modern care accommodation in Treorchy, Ferndale and Church Village, as well as the Mountain Ash scheme. Securing planning permission is a key milestone, and officers will continue to work closely with Linc to keep residents informed as the scheme progresses towards the first works starting on site.”

16 September 2024