£18m funding boost for affordable homes and wellness village in town
THE Welsh Government has pledged £18m of funding towards a healthcare and housing development in Bridgend that will include mental health services and affordable homes.
The funding package will go towards the construction of an integrated health and well-being development called the Sunnyside Wellness Village.
Minister for Mental Health, Wellbeing and the Welsh Language,
Eluned Morgan said: “The coronavirus pandemic has shone a light on the importance of mental health and well-being.
“The new health and well-being village in Bridgend will provide a major boost to community care and well-being by accommodating a wide range of health and well-being resources, including support for frail and older people, vulnerable young people and people with learning difficulties.
“This should avoid unnecessary admissions to hospital or residential care and delays when someone is due to be discharged from care.”
The development will consist of 59 homes and a new £10.7m healthcare centre, located on the site of the old Sunnyside council offices and magistrates’ court.
It will provide new GP services, replacing Ashfield Surgery and Newcastle Surgery, as well as a pharmacy and specialist dentist unit. It will also replace the Quarella Road Clinic which provides sexual health services and the Bryntirion Clinic which provides podiatry and orthotic services.
The new homes will comprise of a mix of two, three and four-bedroom properties, including six homes for people with physical and learning disabilities.
The development is a collaboration between the Welsh Government, Cwm Taf Morgannwg
University Health Board, Bridgend County Borough Council and Linc Cymru Housing Association.
A spokesperson for Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board said the development is designed to bring “care in community settings closer to people’s homes” through “a single state of the art facility”.
Construction is due to begin in March and be completed during the summer of 2022.