Planning permission granted for the new Porth Extra Care facility
In a report to the Committee meeting on Thursday, December 16, Officers had recommended Linc’s application for approval. The application covers the four-storey facility which includes 60 apartments, as well as associated works relating to landscaping, sustainable drainage, access and parking provision.
The building will contain a lower ground floor with a dining area, lounge, hair salon, activity room, kitchen, laundry room, Day Care centre, offices, assisted bathroom, plant room and five apartments – while the remaining apartments will be split across the upper ground floor, first floor and second floor. Six apartments will have two bedrooms, with remainder having a single bedroom.
The Extra Care facility will be built on the former care home site, which has been unused for some time. Work to demolish the buildings to ground level was completed on December 10. The new building will retain the site’s vehicle access, which will be slightly reconfigured, off Bronwydd Avenue. In total, 33 car park spaces will be provided, along with external cycle and buggy stores.
The report to Thursday’s meeting noted that the application enlarges the existing use of the site – a person-specific residential facility. It adds that the development will also provide a much-needed facility for the County Borough which bridges the gap between home living and a traditional care home.
Extra Care delivers modern accommodation with 24-hour support for older people’s assessed needs, allowing them to live as independently as possible. In partnership with Linc, the Council will deliver 300 places across five new developments – on top of the existing Ty Heulog facility in Talbot Green – as part of a strategy to modernise residential care options for older people.
The new facility in Porth will become the third of the new developments, with Maesyffynnon (Aberaman) opening in summer 2020 followed recently by Cwrt yr Orsaf (Pontypridd) which welcomed its first residents in October 2021.
Councillor Geraint Hopkins, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Adult Services, said: “I’m very pleased that Linc has now received full planning permission for the new Porth Extra Care facility, being delivered in partnership with the Council as part of our strategy to modernise and expand residential care provision for older people. The new facility in Porth will provide 60-beds towards our commitment to create an additional 300 across Rhondda Cynon Taf within five new developments.
“We have already seen the benefits of Extra Care through the delivery of our first two developments in Aberaman and Pontypridd – with those residents at Maesyffynon and Cwrt yr Orsaf living in first-class facilities and enjoying the community created within each building. Extra Care can also be relied upon for 24/7 support for assessed needs, while this support also encourages residents to take part in meaningful interaction within the wider community.
“It’s been an exciting week for the Porth Extra Care project, with demolition of the former Dan y Mynydd Care Home buildings completed on December 10, followed closely by Linc gaining full planning permission for the new facility on Thursday. We will keep the community fully up to date with the next stages of the project, leading to the first works beginning on site.”
Sian Diaz, Director of Development at Linc, said: “We are thrilled to have received planning permission to build a 60-apartment state-of-the-art Extra Care scheme on the site of the former Dan y Mynydd Care Home. The approved design seeks to create an environment where residents can enjoy independent living while being part of a vibrant community.
“As we continue our strong partnership with Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council, we look forward to the next phase in this exciting development.”