Welsh Government have been asked to "call in" Neuadd Maldwyn Extra Care Plans

The application by Clwyd Alyn Housing Association to turn the Grade II listed building into 66 one and two-bedroom apartments, could be “called in” to be decided by the Welsh Government.

This meant that a decision made by Powys County Council’s Planning committee at their meeting on Friday, January 22, to approve the plans, is for the time being only a “recommendation.”

The Welsh Government will inform the authority 21 days after receiving all the relevant documentation whether they are going ahead with a call in, or not.

A separate listed building consent planning application is already with the Welsh Government for a decision.

At the meeting, Welshpool Town Council clerk, Ann Wilson, spoke against the application.

She pointed out that there are “more than 16” various types of care homes in the area and that this type of facility is not needed.

Ms Wilson said that the county is losing young people while more older people arrive to retire, putting pressure on services.

Welshpool county councillors Francesca Jump and Phil Pritchard, who are on the planning committee, argued that the plans should be deferred.

Councillor Jump said: “I’m horrified at the scale and design of the whole project in a conservation area which Welshpool is very proud of.

“This will be a blot on its landscape.

“There are many questions we need answers to before we make a decision.”

Plans show that there would be 27 car parking spaces at the facility for the 66 apartments and the workers there.

Councillor Jump said: “The parking is nonsensical – the nearest public car parks are 600 metres today.”

“If this was an application by anyone else it would not have been brought in front of us.”

Councillor Phil Pritchard claimed that the scheme would only see 21 of the 66 apartments used as Extra Care and the rest would be rented out.

He said: “In Welshpool people are concerned and their views mustn’t be ignored, nobody is happy with this.

“This is about getting rid of it off the Council books and that’s not good enough.”

He stressed that the need in Welshpool is for “one and two bedroom flats -not special care.”

Councillor Elwyn Vaughan said: “What we have is a substantial listed building in a prominent place, which limits options of what you can do with it.

“We have choice, we have an £11 million investment on the table, or we could leave a building which will be vacant and in future be run down as PCC is not going to spend on it.”

Councillor Vaughan pointed that other extra care facilities he knew of in Newtown and Porthmadog were a success.

He proposed approving the application and that the car parking spaces be increased to 38.

Councillor David Selby said: “I would be surprised if this isn’t an asset to the town if it was built.

“We ought to encourage development like this which brings use to a building which has sadly lost its use.”

The application was approved by 14 votes in favour, four against and two abstentions.

The scheme which has received the backing of the county council’s Adult Social Services will be covered by grants of over £6.7 million from the Welsh Government.