Health board to appeal against planning decision on Health and Well-being Centre

Hywel Dda University Health Board, on behalf of Dyfed Area Planning Board, will be appealing against a decision by Carmarthenshire County Council to refuse planning permission for a Health Improvement and Wellbeing Centre in Llanelli.

The purpose of the centre is to help improve the health and wellbeing of the community and future generations by providing services to the local community for children, young people and adults who wish to seek support with lifestyle behaviour change.

The health board – on behalf of the Area Planning Board (APB) - submitted a planning application in December 2022 for the delivery of the centre at the Anchor Point building in the North Dock area of the town. This was turned down by the planning authority in September 2023.

The application will now be submitted to Planning Environmental Decisions Wales (PEDW), a Welsh Government body which manages casework relating to the development and use of land in the public interest.

The original planning application included space for the health board’s Health Improvement and Wellbeing public health team, the smoking cessation service, the children and young people’s early intervention and prevention service delivered by Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Dyfed Drug and Alcohol Service, psychology services for both adults and children and the health board Community Drug and Alcohol Team.

Dr Ardiana Gjini, Executive Director of Public Health at Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “Following consideration with our partners, we have come to the conclusion that there is a need for a Health and Well-being Centre in Carmarthenshire and that the Anchor Point building in North Dock is the best place for this.

“A new health improvement and wellbeing centre in Llanelli is essential to the health board’s strategy of shifting services from treating illness, to promoting and supporting wellness, working with partners, communities, patients and public to enable our community to enjoy a healthy lifestyle and tackle the leading causes of preventable ill health and early death.

“Smoking, alcohol and drug misuse are among the leading causes of preventable ill health and early death and tackling these issues are strategic priorities for the health board and members of the Area Planning Board.

“We engaged with the local community at the time of the original application and although some concerns were raised, there was also support shown for the plans by the local community during the consultation events and at the planning committee.

“The health board will continue to engage with the local community regarding this proposed development.”