REVISED plans for the re-development of the former Cardigan Hospital site are currently out for consultation.

Back in October, Wales & West Housing announced a new plan for the revamping of the former Cardigan Hospital site to create new homes for older people, offices and public spaces.

Ceredigion County Council approved WWH’s plans to maintain the original Priory House as a focal point of a development in June 2021.

The plans included 34 apartments for local people, new offices for Wales & West Housing, a regional base for its in-house maintenance company Cambria Maintenance Services, a public café and gardens.   Demolition work began the following spring, followed by ground levelling work, but construction was delayed ‘as a result of the economic situation affecting the cost and availability of materials and labour in the construction sector’.

WWH is also working with architects to re-design the development, the result of which will reduce the number of apartments to 20, provide extra parking for residents and open up views of St Mary’s Church and the Priory House.

Gareth Thomas, Regional Development Manager at Wales & West Housing said that after townspeople said how much they enjoyed being able to see St Mary’s Church following the demolition of old hospital buildings it was agreed that the original design did make the most of the view of the eastern window of St Mary’s Church adjacent.

“We have decided to revise our plans to take out one of the original apartment blocks,” he added.

“This will open the view to both the back of Priory House and the eastern window of St Mary’s Church, meaning that everyone visiting Cardigan via Pont y Cleifion will be able to enjoy that view at the gateway to the town.”   Further feedback from locals will now be considered before the new planning application is submitted to Ceredigion County Council, possibly by the end of this month.

If permission is granted, construction work is expected to restart next summer and will take approximately two years to complete.