Potential grant match-funding of up to £2.7m for a £13.5m scheme to provide 25 affordable homes for the over-55s has been backed by senior Pembrokeshire councillors.

At the June meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet, members approved awarding a fixed contract of £13,560,454.21 to C Wynne & Son to construct 25 flats, one bedsit, a 12 bed reablement facility, communal areas and all other associated works at Haverfordia House, Haverfordwest.

In 2019, Cabinet backed the acquisition of the freehold of Haverfordia House, with the overall intention to deliver a new housing and wellbeing facility following its demolition.

A report for members at the June meeting said: “As well as providing long-term residents with a sense of place and community, it will provide short-term reablement users with the facilities and in-house support which they need to relearn the skills required to keep them safe and independent when they return home.”

It said there was a need for one-bed properties, and a review of sheltered over 55 accommodation was undertaken in 2018-19 which identified that existing sheltered housing stock is “no longer fit for purpose”.

“At this point the local authority embarked on a programme of renewing this stock, replacing with modern, accessible and compliant homes that promote independent living and preventing unnecessary moves to residential care. This proactive support reduces crisis situations and lowers the likelihood of emergency interventions, helping to manage demand for higher cost services.

“It is anticipated that Haverfordia House will provide one such development in the LA programme, such sheltered schemes are needed as a housing option for over 55s in the county.”

It finished: “The one scheme will deliver facilities for both Housing and Social Care, within the surroundings of a public car park, green open space fields and easily accessible to local services to the town centre of Haverfordwest.”

The June Cabinet approval was on condition that the Housing with Care Fund grant application receives panel approval for 100 per cent of the build costs for the reablement element of the development, some £5.5m.

If that grant funding was not forthcoming, the Cabinet approval was reneged, with further funding options represented to a future Cabinet for consideration.

The matter returned to the July Cabinet meeting, with members hearing that, following further dialogue with Welsh Government, it is now considered likely that match funding will be required, though the extent of that requirement is not likely to be known until after July 23 when the Welsh Government Housing with Care Fund Panel next meets.

While the exact amount of match-funding needed is not yet known, members agreed to a maximum of £2,679.092, some 40 per cent, against total capital cost of the reablement facility, with hopes the final amount would be lower.

Members also formally re-approved the award of the construction contract to C Wynne and Sons Ltd.