Centre to make way for homes
UP TO 30 new council homes could be built in Llanishen after the council agreed to go ahead with a land deal.
Cardiff council has been given the go-ahead to buy the site of the Iorwerth Jones Centre – which the authority says has the potential for around 30 new council homes.
The centre, which is owned by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, has been used as a care home for the elderly but a council report says it is no longer required for that purpose.
Once the council buys the land, it intends to demolish the building to make way for the new homes.
It would cost an estimated £4.6m, in addition to the cost of the site, to demolish the centre and build the new homes, according to a council report.
Cardiff council’s cabinet approved the acquisition of the site yesterday.
Councillor Adrian Robson, Conservative leader on the council, said other options should be reviewed for the site on how it could best serve north Cardiff.
“I would suggest this could be an excellent site for a dementia centre,” he said.
Conservatives on the council called on the council to establish a day centre in the north of Cardiff during a full council meeting on November 29.
An amended version of the motion was eventually passed, which called on the cabinet to work with the health board and the Alzheimer’s Society to map the needs of people living with dementia across Cardiff and establish where additional services are needed, particularly in the north of the city.
The acquisition of the Iowerth Jones Centre and the new council homes would be funded by the council’s housing revenue account (HRA) capital programme.
Councillor Russell Goodway, cabinet member for investment and development, told Cllr Robson the HRA cannot acquire a site for a dementia centre.
The Iowerth Jones Centre was previously owned by the council but sold to the health board in 2008.
Another land deal for the council to acquire the Biffa Waste Recycling Centre in Bessemer Close was also approved yesterday.
The cabinet also approved that the council sells its long leasehold of another site 3-4 Wharton Street – a grade two listed building which houses a shop, The Glassworks pub and a private members club. The council would retain the freehold.