Go ahead for new dementia care home in North Wales

Despite significant opposition, a £7m scheme in North Wales to provide specialist dementia care has finally been given the green light. In addition, this development by care home providers Pendine Park will provide 100 new jobs.

Gwynedd councillors unanimously overturned a recommendation by officials to reject the planning application to develop the site of a former community hospital, Ysbyty Bryn Seiont, which is situated on the outskirts of Caernarfon.

The decision has delighted the owners of Pendine Park, social care pioneer Mario Kreft and his wife Gill who bought the site in 2009. Mr Kreft said: "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."

Mr Kreft added: “We see this as a really exciting opportunity to provide some new, innovative services and to work closely with the statutory authorities to make sure that those services meet the needs and the likely future needs of the people of Gwynedd.”

The couple already run seven care homes, a domiciliary care company and a teaching care centre in the Wrexham area and Mr Kreft is a leading figure in the UK care sector.

Pendine Park employs nearly 600 people in North East Wales.