The Welsh Government has approved funding for the proposals to build 42 extra care housing units – which provide modern accommodation and care for older people – in Penrhosgarnedd.

The funding has been made available after planning permission for extra care housing at Llan Ffestiniog was refused by the Snowdonia National Park Authority. Following this decision the government approved a formal request from Gwynedd Council to transfer the funding which had previously been earmarked for Llan Ffestiniog to the Bangor project.

Planning permission for the development in Penrhosgarnedd - which will only be the second extra care housing development in Gwynedd - has already been granted. A similar development at Awel y Coleg, Bala is due to open in the autumn.

Councillor John Wyn Williams, Gwynedd Council’s Care Senior Portfolio Leader, said:

“I am delighted that the Welsh Government has agreed to our request to transfer funding for this exciting project.

“People are always telling us that they want to continue to live independently in their own homes for as long as possible as they get older, and more extra care housing in the Bangor area will allow us to support people to do this.

“The older population in Gwynedd is set to increase over the coming years and we must prepare now for the demands which will inevitably be placed on our services, and be able to give people a choice of how and where they want to live.

“I am also pleased that by working in partnership with North Wales Housing Association we will be able to provide a welcomed boost to the local economy in the Bangor area.”

Phil Danson of North Wales Housing said: "The extra care concept is an important development in housing for older people offering a clear choice in the way that people want to live in later years.
 
"This will be the third extra care scheme that North Wales Housing has developed and we aim to bring our extensive skills, knowledge and understanding of extra care to this scheme in Penrhoshgarnedd.
 
"We are delighted to see Welsh Government grant funding of £4.8million secured with North Wales Housing contributing a further £4 million plus through private borrowing."

This proposed development at Penrhosgarnedd is part of a Welsh Government programme to increase extra care housing provision.