Former residential home could house affordable housing development

Affordable housing for older people could be built on the site of a former Anglesey residential home, it has been revealed.

The local authority has issued a tender seeking expressions of interest in helping design a development at the site of the former Plas Penlan home in Llangefni.

The home has remained empty since closing its doors in 2018, although cabins were installed on part of the site last year to answer increased emergency homeless demand during the height of the pandemic.

According to officers, the site was chosen to house the cabins due to having access to water, electricity and other such utilities, with the permitted development following the new temporary planning guidelines put in place by the Welsh Government.

But a more permanent development is now being envisaged, with the tender notice on the nationwide Sell2Wales website raising clues over officers’ future plans for the site.

And while the flats are envisaged as being offered to older people, any such development would likely free up affordable housing elsewhere on the island.

The notice states: “The council wishes to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced Architect for the design of an affordable housing development.
“The Council wishes to appoint a suitably qualified and experienced Consultant to undertake the design of low-carbon bungalows and or flats for older people complying with DQR, Lifetime Homes, Secure by Design and Design Commission for Wales Standards.
“The intention is to apply for Welsh Government grant funding, so all design work will have to follow WG’s procedures for Social Housing Grant.”

It goes on to state that construction work would then be undertaken by the successful contractor on a design and build contract basis.
Officers had previously mooted the possibility of selling off the site in a bid to generate some revenue.

Plas Penlan was largely replaced by the extra-care housing scheme at Hafan Cefni, near the Lidl supermarket on the former Ysgol y Bont site, which offers sheltered housing or assisted living for the over 60s.

A council spokesman said the authority had nothing further to add at this stage.

By Gareth Williams – Local Democracy Reporter