Carmarthenshire Council Buys Care Home for £720,000, Plans to Build Bigger Facility
Carmarthenshire Council has recently acquired the Plas Y Bryn residential care home in Cwmgwili for £720,000 with intentions to demolish it and construct a larger facility in its place. The new care home is proposed to have almost double the number of beds compared to the existing one, in response to the increasing demand for residential and nursing home beds in the region. The decision to demolish the current 32-bed home was made as it would not be structurally capable of supporting an additional third storey.
The new care home would feature 60 beds spread across five wings and would be registered to provide both residential and nursing care services. Among the 60 beds, 12 would be designated for nursing care. The need for more care facilities is attributed to the aging population in Wales, particularly in the western part of the country. A population assessment conducted two years ago projected a 25% increase in residents aged 85 and over in Carmarthenshire by 2030.
With 39 care homes currently operating in the county offering a total of 1,452 beds, predominantly managed by the private sector, the demand for more care options is evident. Three care homes have shut down in recent years, underscoring the necessity for additional residential and nursing home spaces. Councillor Jane Tremlett emphasised the urgency of addressing the accommodation shortfall at a cabinet meeting on December 16.
The estimated cost for the redevelopment of the Plas Y Bryn site is £19.5 million, with a majority of the funding – over £14 million – expected to be sourced from the Welsh Government, while the remainder would be provided by the council. Despite the initial investment, the council anticipates substantial long-term savings. Private care home providers often impose “top-up” fees on councils commissioning beds, impacting their care budgets. Nursing home services are particularly costly due to the higher level of care required for residents with advanced conditions such as dementia.
As part of its broader strategy to address the growing demand for care facilities, the council is also exploring the construction of a nursing home within the Pentre Awel health and life sciences complex in Llanelli, along with considering a similar project in the Carmarthen area. The new Plas Y Bryn home is envisioned to incorporate innovative technology like room sensors to detect falls, wearable devices for monitoring vital signs, and telemedicine capabilities for remote diagnoses.
Councillor Tremlett, responsible for health and social services, anticipates that subject to planning permission and funding approval, the energy-efficient facility at Plas Y Bryn could open in the first quarter of 2027-28. A pre-application consultation would offer the community an opportunity to review and provide feedback on the proposed plans. Councillor Linda Evans, leading the homes portfolio, highlighted the significance of the project for families and individuals in need of care services, underscoring the high demand for such facilities in the region.
In conclusion, Carmarthenshire Council’s initiative to redevelop the Plas Y Bryn care home site reflects a proactive response to the rising demand for care services in the region. By investing in modern, purpose-built facilities equipped with advanced technology, the council aims to enhance the quality of care provided to residents while promoting efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the long term. The proposed project signals a significant step towards addressing the accommodation shortfall and meeting the evolving needs of the aging population in Carmarthenshire.