A Welsh construction company has started work on redeveloping and extending the Pont Aur housing complex in Ystradgynlais.

The accommodation for older people on Ynyscedwyn Road is being extended and will provide ExtraCare housing for the first time in the south of Powys, in a £5.5m partnership project between Powys County Council and the Pobl Group.

The Bridgend-based Jehu Group has been awarded the contract to carry out the construction work. This will see the upgrading of existing sheltered housing accommodation, including the introduction of the ExtraCare element to accommodate local people with some or no care needs. The scheme will add 12 more homes for local older people in an extension to the existing building.

ExtraCare delivers modern purpose-built accommodation which has 24-hour care and support available on site to meet the needs and changing expectations of residents, allowing them to live as independently as possible in their own homes with their own front door. 24-hour care services are located on site, couples and friends can stay together and there is a mix of people with differing levels of need, including those who are living independently.

All ExtraCare apartments will have accessible bedrooms, sitting room, separate kitchen area and walk-in shower with the overall development having communal spaces, community alarms and access to technology enabled care.

Marc Jehu, Group CEO Construction commented: "Jehu are pleased to have been appointed as the contractor for the Pont Aur development. We are delighted to be working with both Powys County Council and Pobl Group and we understand that this project forms part of a wider health and care strategy, so the ExtraCare facility and the 12 new homes will add greatly to the needs of the older generation in Ystradgynlais."

Cllr. Iain McIntosh is the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Housing with the council. He commented: "We carried out research into what kind of older people's accommodation we needed in Powys in 2018 and this project grew out of that work. I am really pleased to see this project get underway as the ExtraCare element will provide a new kind of provision for the Ystradgynlais community."

Cllr Myfanwy Alexander, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said; "We are all pleased to see the start of the Pont Aur ExtraCare development, involving the upgrading of existing homes and the introduction of twelve new homes for local older people. Powys County Council is committed to giving our residents real housing choices at every stage of their lives. By providing Extra Care Housing at PontAur, we are offering flexible housing solutions for local people to meet their changing needs."

Adam Roberts, Head of Development - West at Pobl Group said: "We're delighted to see work getting underway at Pont Aur, and are looking forward to working in partnership with JEHU and Powys County Council to create more homes that meet the needs of Ystradgynlais.

"At Pobl, we are committed to creating genuinely great places to live that stand the test of time and enhance the local community, and we will continue to work with the existing residents of Pont Aur to ensure that they are engaged throughout the redevelopment."