A MERTHYR TYDFIL town centre building is set to be redeveloped into an assisted living accommodation.
As part of the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns programme of funding, Castle House has been earmarked for a £2.7m redevelopment following detailed discussions with the council’s strategic housing team.
The plan is to develop space for a new commercial unit at ground level and then develop a town centre building which is gated and safe for the residents consisting of four two-bedroom flats and eight one-bedroom flats all equipped with adapted bathrooms and kitchens as well as other amenities such as lifts suitable for disabled access, along with green infrastructure for cost saving benefits for residents longer term.
The first two floors will be fully adapted to meet the needs and requirements of people with disabilities, and the lift within the building will be used to provide access to all floors.
The building will be completed by March 2025, a council report said.
A report to cabinet on Wednesday, February 21 said that developer RWP Properties will be installing a wheelchair/electric lift and ramps from street level for the residents.
The remaining floors will be allocated for people aged over 50 or for those with an accessibility need.
The report said: “The intention is to create a community building within the town centre, which will be secure and safe for vulnerable and elderly residents. RWP Properties will install wider doors, full wet room bathrooms for the residents and all designs/fit out will be made in conjunction with strategic housing and the community occupational therapy (COT) team.
“The advantages of working with strategic housing and COTs is it will ensure that the building can be filled to full capacity with local residents with an identified need when the building is complete.”
A funding allocation of £1.76m has been secured from the Welsh Government’s Transforming Town’s programme towards a total project cost of £2.73m with £1.23m being grant funding and £528,433 in repayable funding.
