£7m dementia centre in Gwynedd gets the go-ahead

A £7M scheme to provide specialist  dementia care and create 100 new  jobs has been given the green light.

Councillors in Gwynedd unanimously overturned a recommendation by officials to reject a planning  application to develop the site of the  former Ysbyty Bryn Seiont community hospital on the outskirts of Caernarfon.

The decision in favour of the  proposal was welcomed by social  care pioneer Mario Kreft and his wife, Gill (pictured), who originally bought  the site in 2009.

Mr Kreft said: “I am  grateful to the councillors who recognised the strategic importance of  our investment in Caernarfon .

“Our aim from the outset has  been to provide vital services and  much needed employment in the  area. I am pleased we can now proceed to realise our vision of  creating  a world class, fully bilingual centre  of excellence for dementia care  allied to 16 extra care apartments as  part of an integrated service.”

The couple already run seven care  homes, a domiciliary care company  and a teaching care centre in the  Wrexham area.

Mr Kreft is the Chair of Care  Forum Wales, the main representative body for the care sector in  Wales, and was awarded an MBE for his work in Wales.

Pendine Park already employs  nearly 600 people in North East Wales. The plans for Bryn Seiont are based on the Bodlondeb centre in Wrexham, which was named as the  best new dementia care facility in Britain at the UK Over 50’s Housing Awards.