Plans for an extra care facility including 56 housing units at Aberystwyth’s former Plas Morolwg site have been fully approved, despite concerns the location could leave elderly vulnerable people isolated.

The new facility, which is being built by Wales and West Housing Association, had been hailed by Ceredigion County Council leader Ellen ap Gwynn as increased care provision for the Aberystwyth area following the closure of the Bodlondeb home, but critics have questioned the location of the facility.

The council confirmed that full planning permission had been approved, subject to conditions.

It is expected that building work will start in March and it will be ready to open early in 2021.

The association’s deputy chief executive, Shane Hembrow, said: “We have already started clearing the site and, while we are still working to finalise contracts, we hope to start building later this month.

“We anticipate the scheme will be ready to welcome the first residents early in 2021.

“It has been some time in the planning, but we are looking forward to working with the community to bring modern, much-needed extra care housing to the town, which local people can be proud of.”

But the decision has been criticised by members of the North Ceredigion Elderly Forum who said that concerns over the location of the site had been discounted.

Pat Bates, the secretary of the forum and a member of the Ceredigion Community Health Council locality committee, said: “As secretary of the NCECF I cannot understand why, after all the publicity reported in the Cambrian News on the unsuitability and foolishness of building an extra care facility at Plas Morolwg by local residents for good reason, that Ceredigion Council have granted full planning permission."

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