A call to convert a former north Ceredigion nursing home to apartments is expected to be allowed by officers if the applicants can prove they can’t afford to make a policy contribution towards affordable housing in the county.

In an application recommended for approval at the 14 October meeting of Ceredigion County Council’s development management committee, Mark Sandford, of Abermad Mansion, Llanfarian, through agent Hughes Architects, sought permission to convert the Grade-II*-Listed building from a nursing home into residential accommodation.

The scheme will see 11 apartments at the site.

Abermad Nursing Home, between Llanfarian and Llanilar, closed its doors more than three years ago and the grand country house has remained unoccupied since.

Plas Abermad was designed by the renowned architect John Pollard Seddon and built in 1872.

During the 20th century the building was utilised as a private school until it transitioned to a nursing home.

The home cared for for up to 27 residents across 23 single rooms and two shared rooms up until its closure in June 2023, due to recruitment issues, leaving it with insufficient staff.

An officer report said the building “had suffered from a lack of maintenance which resulted in the roof leaking in places and other essential repairs not having been carried out.”

“As a result water ingress had started to affect the roof structure and interior,” the report added.

“There had also been significant damage to some of the stonework over the years, especially to the porch and side lean to area, with the stone carvings being eroded.

“The condition of this important building is of concern, with the effects of the water ingress being clearly visible.

“However, the roof works and repairs to the stonework [from a previous consent] have been implemented.”

The report said it can be “difficult to find new uses for such buildings, especially ones that have a minimal impact on their character, appearance and fabric.”

“The conversion to residential uses can be particularly difficult to incorporate successfully, especially where it is proposed to divide the building into small units and not to respect the original layout and detailing of the building,” the report added.

“This proposal however has taken into account these matters and has been developed on the basis of what is currently in place.”

One sticking point for the scheme was a lack of an affordable housing contribution, currently set at 20 per cent, or two affordable units; the applicants saying including such a condition would make the proposal unviable.

The report said: “It is noted that the proposal does not provide an affordable housing contribution due to the lack of viability in terms of the significant additional costs in relation to restoring and converting listed buildings, especially Grade-II*-listed buildings such as Plas Abermad.”

It said planners were currently considering a formal viability challenge by the applicants to that affordable housing policy in respect of the scheme.

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Members backed a recommendation to defer a decision giving planning officers powers to approve, pending the outcome of the viability challenge.