RCT Council and Linc Cymru (Linc) announced that a new contractor has been appointed to construct the extra care housing scheme in Porth and that work will resume on site in the coming weeks.
The exciting scheme will bring the former Dan y Mynydd Care Home site back into use by building a state-of-the-art development containing 60 extra care apartments. The four-storey building will include a dining area, a hair salon, an activity room, a day care centre and offices, along with an external car park.
The old care home buildings were demolished and planning permission for the extra care development was granted in 2021, enabling work to start on site in 2022. However, the development paused when contractor Jehu Group Ltd entered administration. Significant work has since taken place to appoint a new contractor and arrangements are being made to resume the project.
Intelle Construction is now appointed as the new contractor, and the scheme is currently on course to start on site in February 2024.
The new contractor has recently carried out some minor investigation work on site to help with the building’s design, however, there will be no significant changes to the original scheme. The revised completion date for the development is autumn 2025.
Councillor Gareth Caple, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, said: “It’s fantastic news that work to build the new Porth extra care housing scheme will resume on site in the weeks ahead, following the appointment of a new contractor. The facility will contain 60 extra care beds with first-class amenities, to help more people live as independently as possible with 24/7 support for their assessed needs. Like all of our extra care schemes, it will promote a sense of community for residents within the building while promoting meaningful interaction in the wider local community.
“Significant activity has been ongoing behind the scenes to appoint a replacement contractor and resume the scheme. The process of changing contractors is very complicated, especially once a scheme has started on site – and I’m pleased that we are now in a position to proceed with a revised programme. Works will now progress towards completion next year.
“The scheme is being delivered as a part of a wider Council commitment to modernise residential care options for older people and increase the number of extra care beds in the County Borough to 300. Our newest schemes – Cwrt yr Orsaf in Graig and Maesyffynnon in Aberaman – are already established as key hubs in their communities. Following Cabinet’s decision in February 2023, an additional £60m investment will retain five Council care homes and provide new accommodation in Treorchy, Ferndale, Mountain Ash and Church Village.
“The Council and Linc will work closely with the newly-appointed contractor to deliver the Porth extra care scheme as quickly and efficiently as possible. We’ll keep residents up-to-date with all of the key landmarks of the project in the weeks and months ahead, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the site is transformed into a modern, first-class facility that is fit for the 21st Century.”
Richard Hallett, Development Manager at Linc Cymru, added: “It’s fantastic to be working with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council to get this much-needed housing scheme back on track.
“Treforest-based Intelle Construction are keen to get started and build this state-of-the-art extra care home. We’re looking forward to regularly sharing the progress on the site as it develops.”
