Powys Council has joined the county's teaching health board in approving the next stage of a multi-million pound healthcare overhaul for Montgomeryshire.

Last week the health board approved the care model for the North Powys Wellbeing programme, which could see a new medical and social "hub" built in Newtown.

Now Powys Council's leader, Cllr Rosemaries Harris, has given the green light on the council's behalf, after being handed the power to do so when a cabinet meeting was cancelled because of the coronavirus last week.

The wellbeing project is a joint health board and council scheme which should see a a multi-million pound care facility built in Newtown

Agreeing the model of care will allow staff to start looking at how much the project will cost and what services will be delivered.

This work would support a business case to submit grant funding applications to find the money needed to turn the vision into reality.

The report that would have been presented by Adult Social Service portfolio holder Cllr Myfanwy Alexander (Independent – Banwy) explained that a four-month engagement process took place last summer with public, staff and organisations across towns and communities in Montgomeryshire.

Comments made went towards developing the new model and the case to support building a multi-agency wellbeing campus in Newtown in principle.

The report said that people were asked to explain what they thought keeps people safe and well in their homes and communities.

Their experience of using public services was and how they could be improved and brought “closer to home.”

The model of care had been looked at by councillors at a meeting of the Health and Care committee in February.

The feared  feared that the project was too “Newtown-centric” and should be for all of Powys, not just the north.

Councillors also believed that the social care and wellbeing side of things needed to be better explained as people might perceive the future hub a wholly medical facility.

Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB) approved the model of care at a meeting on Wednesday, March 25.

In May 2019, the Welsh Government announced that £2.5 million of funding has been made available to start the project, although it is expected that the scheme would cost over £20million to complete.

The Park area, in Newtown is earmarked for the building.