Plans for extra care facility in Brecon could be decided by Welsh Government

PLANS for a Powys County Council 66 apartment Extra Care facility in the middle of Brecon could be decided by the Welsh Government planning inspectors, councillors have been told.
At a meeting of Powys County Council’s Health and Care Scrutiny committee on Thursday July 18 councillors were given an update on how the council’s Extra Care building projects are coming along.
The decision was taken to move ahead with this type of facility by the Independent/Conservative cabinet more than five years ago with projects in Welshpool, Brecon and Ystradgynlais all being mooted.
Since then, the development at Welshpool’s Neuadd Maldwyn is nearing completion while the extension and re-development of Pont Aur in Ystradgynlais is expected to open in November 2025.
Interim head of commissioning and partnerships Rachel Evans explained the situation with the development in Brecon.
Ms Evans said:  “The main planning application has been to the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority Planning committee.
“All of the planning is subject to a potential call in by Welsh Government – we may see that we’ll have to respond to that.
“We would hope to open in early 2027 but all of this is subject to final approval.”
The scheme in Brecon is earmarked for the former Roy Hatton Care Sales Site on Free Street.
Last year a full planning application and conservation area application had been lodged by Powys council with Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority who are the planning authority in this part of the county.
At their meeting in April the national park authority’s Planning committee postponed taking a decision on the application as members deferred the matter to a later date.
Bannau Brycheiniog planning officers had recommended refusing the scheme as the:  “removal and widening of the entrance would impact adversely on the character and appearance of the Brecon Conservation Area.”
Last week the Welsh Government’s planning directorate issued a holding direction for the scheme as they decided whether or not to call in the proposal and take over the decision making process.
Welsh Government head of planning casework, Hywel Butts said: “I direct Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority, not to grant planning permission for the development without the prior authorisation of the Welsh ministers.
“I issue this direction to enable further consideration to be given to whether or not the application should be referred to the Welsh ministers for their determination.
“The direction only prevents your authority from granting planning permission; it does not prevent it from continuing to process or consult on the application.”
Mr Butts explains that the council could refuse the application “if they so wish.”
Extra care facilities are for people over 65 years old is supposed to provide independent living with onsite care and support. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​