In December Carmarthenshire County Council’s planning committee approved plans to demolish the former Lidl supermarket on Priory Street and replace it with 48 apartments for people aged over 55.
The one-bedroom flats are designed in four two to three-storey blocks with a split-level communal courtyard garden in the centre and resident parking. Each apartment will have its own decked access and garden views.
The site, which is in the town’s conservation area, has been unused since the supermarket moved to Friars Park in Carmarthen in 2019.
Wales & West Housing, who are behind the plans, say the next stage will be the demolition of the former supermarket building followed by an archaeological dig.
The housing association say they will employ archaeologists to excavate and record the remains of walls dating back to Roman and post-medieval times, which were uncovered during the initial site investigations.
(Image: Wales & West Housing / Pentan Partnership)
(Image: Wales & West Housing / Pentan Partnership)
(Image: Wales & West Housing / Pentan Partnership)
(Image: Google Maps)
Gareth Thomas, Regional Development Manager for Wales & West Housing, said: “We’re excited to bring this prime town centre site back into use to create homes for local people. There’s a demand for good quality, modern homes for older people that are affordable to rent and heat.
“This is a historic part of the town. The Carmarthen Infirmary and St Peter’s Church are listed buildings and close to the site, so we’ve worked with Carmarthenshire planners to design a scheme that complements the area.”
Wales and West Housing are working with their long-term construction partners Jones Brothers (Henllan) Ltd on the project.
The homes will be built to the highest energy efficiency rate of EPC A. They will be fitted with air source heat pumps to heat the hot water, solar PV (photovoltaic) panels on the roof to help power the electric heating. Mechanical ventilation and heat recovery (MVHR) systems will also be installed to take stale air, odours and moisture out, bring fresh, clean air in and recycle warm moist air.
They are also designed to create innovative and quality housing for older residents as set out in a Parliamentary report on Housing our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation (HAPPI).
As part of the scheme, Wales & West Housing say they will also be carrying out environmental work to attract and maintain wildlife.
These will include areas planted with wildflowers to attract insects and native shrubs and trees, bird boxes to attract swallows, swifts, sparrows and other birds, bat roosting boxes or bricks and hedgehog highways.
(Lead image: Wales & West Housing / Pentan Partnership)
