🏠 Exciting News for Bridgend: New Children’s Home on the Way! 🎉
Bridgend County Borough Council has just approved a massive £1.62m investment to develop a brand new children’s residential care home! 🙌 This funding will enable the council to purchase and refurbish a property that will be registered with Care Inspectorate Wales, making it a crucial resource for the community.
The project, which was unanimously approved in a recent council meeting, is expected to be a game-changer. Once the home is ready, it will provide accommodation for up to four children, bringing them closer to their local community and saving the council nearly £300,000 annually. 💷
The council plans to initially fund the project with its own resources but aims to recover these costs through the Welsh Government’s Housing with Care Fund. While there is a slight risk if the funding isn’t recovered, officials believe the risk is low.
With the property valued at £995,000 and additional costs like the land transaction tax, refurbishments, and furnishing, the total investment will hit the £1.62m mark. However, if fully funded by the Housing with Care Fund, this would be a long-term asset at no extra capital cost to the council! 💡
Deputy Leader Cllr Jane Gebbie shared, “Our children deserve the best and they deserve homes closer to where they live which is what we are trying to do here.”
While some councillors raised concerns about the high land transaction tax, council officers assured that this approach is the most viable, avoiding prolonged tendering processes and rising build costs.
This new development sets the stage for a brighter future for children in our community. What are your thoughts on this million-pound investment? Let us know in the comments below! 👇
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