Work begins on new care facility after £50m boost
CONSTRUCTION has started on care apartments for older people in Aberaman following a wider £50m investment.
A ground breaking event officially started the work on the site of the Maesyffynnon residential care home on June 1.
The development will include 36 one-bedroom and four two-bedroom apartments for people aged 50 and over, in a single three-storey building on Club Street.
The Aberaman site is the first of five care facilities to be built after Rhondda Cynon Taf council cabinet discussed the plans in October 2017, with a £50m investment for the growing older population in the county.
The council said it has identified the need for 300 extra care places across the county as demand for new models of care and support increases”.
RCT council cabinet member for adult and children’s community services Geraint Hopkins said: “The Aberaman development is the first extra care scheme to be delivered by the council as part of a wider £50m investment, to address the need for 300 new extra care places across Rhondda Cynon Taff. This is a bold approach to ensure a sustainable model of care for current and future older generations.
“The council is working closely with Linc Cymru over these schemes, to deliver upon our commitment to provide state-ofthe-art modern facilities that maximise independence and reduce the dependency on more institutionalised alternatives.
“I’m looking forward to seeing progress being made over the coming months on the Aberaman development.”
Artist’s impressions of the site were also displayed on the day of the groundbreaking, which was attended by the council and the projects’ partners.
The site will include communal facilities including a dining room and cafe, hair salon, therapy room, lounge, laundry room, winter garden room, activity room and a guest suite.
There will be on-site assistance for residents with decreased mobility or other similar conditions.
A 24-space car park and a garden area will be used in conjunction with Blaengwawr Primary School.
Linc Cymru, the largest provider of extra care in Wales, has been chosen as the council’s partner for its wider plan of five extra care facilities.
Planning permission was granted in February 2018 following the demolition of the former Maesyffynnon Residential Care Home in October 2017.
The development will use modern methods of construction working with the Welsh Procurement Service and F1 Modular Ltd based in Powys.
The company will construct elements of the development up to final fit-out stage, for example kitchens and bathrooms, in its factory, which will then be delivered to the site to reduce construction time.