WELSH Government planning inspectors have decided not to call in plans to convert Neuadd Maldwyn in Welshpool into flats for older people – meaning the project can now proceed.
The £11.6 million plans by Clwyd Alyn Housing Association to change the former Montgomeryshire Council headquarters into a 66 apartment Extra Care facility for older people was approved at a Powys County Council planning committee meeting on Friday, January 22, and transferred the building to Clwyd Alyn soon afterwards.
But with planning inspectors having their say, this decision was only a “recommendation” until the council heard back from the Welsh Government.
Now the Government has decided it does not need to rule on the plans, and the project can now go ahead.
Planning directorate, head of decisions branch, T Davies said; “We consider the call-in requests have not identified issues which demonstrate the applications are contrary to national policy, nor do the applications appear significantly to affect statutorily designated sites.
“There are objections to the application, however, they are confined to the local area.
“Having assessed the issues associated with the call-in request and, in the light of the Welsh Government’s policy on call-in, I do not consider the issues raised are of more than local importance in this instance."
A separate listed building consent planning application had been referred to Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service for evaluation, but that organisation has also opted against referring the plans to the Government.
The council's head of property, planning and public protection, Gwilym Davies, has now officially sent a letter to Clwyn Alyn Housing Association approving the plans.
The scheme, which has received the backing of the council's adult social services, will be covered by grants of over £6.7 million from the Welsh Government, with £4.9 million coming from Clwyd Alyn.
Powys Council's contribution to the scheme is the building, which is worth an estimated £660,000.
Powys Council is expecting a 157 per cent rise in the number of over-85s, to 2,445, by 2036.
Neuadd Maldwyn dates back to 1927 when it was built for the former Montgomeryshire County Council, and extensions were added in the 1930s and 1950s.
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