WORK is set to start in the next few weeks on building a new care home in Newtown.

Developers are already clearing out the former Flying Shuttle Pub site on Llanidloes Road and are set to sign a deal with care providers to run the facility in the next few weeks.

Powys County Councillor for Newtown Central, David Selby welcomes the development.

Cllr Selby said: "Clearing work on the site has been taking place and I understand that building work is set to start later this month or in early October.

"This is a much needed facility for Newtown and the whole county.

David Wormald, of Care Developments (Newtown) Ltd, said: "Work has started on the site and we will be starting the building work in the first week of October.

"We are hoping to exchange contracts with a care provider to run the facility in the next couple of weeks."

In January 2014, Powys planners gave the development for a 73 bed home at the Flying Shuttle the green light.

The pub owned by Punch Taverns has now been demolished.

In recent weeks Greenscape Environmental Ltd were commissioned to provide a Biodiversity Enhancement Plan for the development of the site.

This is one of several pre-development conditions that need to be discharged before the care home and car park can be built.

Ben Jones, of Greenscape, said: "This document aims to provide Powys Council with confidence that the biodiversity value of the site will be enhanced, contributing to a sustainable development."

Landscaping plans include having an area for Grassland and Wildflowers, and keeping the trees that are currently around the site which would provide "excellent foraging habitat for bats and birds".

This includes putting up a "bat box" as well as bird boxes in the trees that increases  roosting opportunities for the animals.

Archaeologists will also keep a watching brief of  during construction of any structural or human remains are found at the site as Roman Road which ran from a fort at Forden to the the settlement at Caersws runs nearby.