Contractors have now moved onto site as building work gets underway at a Grade II listed former council office building in Welshpool.

After several years of uncertainty over the future of the site, the Neuadd Maldwyn building on Severn Road is set to become a 65 room "extra care" residential care facility after planning permission for the scheme was approved earlier this year.

Neuadd Maldwyn dates back to 1927 when it was built for the former Montgomeryshire County Council, with extensions added to the property in the 1930s and 1950s.

Now the final traces of the building's former past as the offices for both Montgomeryshire and Powys County Councils are being removed as the property is converted, having been closed by Powys County Council in 2018 due to concerns over the rising cost of maintenance for the building.

Developers say the redeveloped property will feature 66 self-contained one and two bedroom apartments, and will offer independent living combined with care and support, bridging a gap of older persons housing in the area. Local Powys residents will be given priority to the new apartments upon completion in 2023, they say.

Work on the building has now begun, starting with site clearance and creation of new access routes. Developers say the building will be restored and sympathetically extended as part of the development programme, providing onsite services and provisions for use by residents and the local community.

Mike Nevitt, Managing Director at Anwyl Partnerships said: "This is a brilliant site and a wonderful building that will be redeveloped to create new homes for local people.

"We are working in partnership with ClwydAlyn and Powys County Council to ensure the needs of the local community are met as well as all other stakeholders. Not only will the scheme provide a unique residential offering for older people, but also breathe new life into this fantastic building. Development of the scheme will also create employment opportunities for local people through ourselves as part of the build, as well as a host of additional positions once completed and fully operational.

"Community sits at the heart of this development and we look forward to forging links with local community members from the outset, having already started our first quarterly newsletter."