Extra care facility opening delayed

A £10M extra care facility will not open until October, council bosses have confirmed.

Hafan Cefni, which has 63 one- and two-bedroom apartments on the site of the former Ysgol Y Bont school in Llangefni, was set to open to tenants in the summer.

Also known as sheltered housing or assisted living for the over 60s, the facility – the result of a partnership between Anglesey Council, Pennaf Housing Group and the Welsh Government – is designed for those who wish to live independently in a home of their own.

It is due to replace the town’s Plas Penlan residential home.

But a report to the council’s Corporate Scrutiny Committee confirmed its opening has now slipped back to October, despite assurances that construction is progressing well.

Council leader Llinos Medi confirmed that the council would not face any costs as result of the delay. These will fall on the developers instead.

The island already has the second highest older people’s population in Wales.

A 68% increase in those living past 85 is expected over the next decade.

However, plans for a separate extra care facility in Amlwch look less likely.

It has now been confirmed that no developers have been found to help establish such a facility.

Part of a fundamental shift away from traditional residential care provision, it was voted in 2014 that once new provision was in place in Amlwch it would result in the closure of the town’s Brwynog care home.

The report confirmed an assessment is being undertaken by the housing service to look at housing needs more widely within the area without dismissing the potential for extra care.

Deputy Chief Executive Anwen Morgan added: “The housing department is looking at all the options and with plans progressing well in Llangefni and Beaumaris, attention can turn fully towards Amlwch now.”