Building work as part to convert one of the oldest buildings in Machynlleth into a "high quality" 36-room lodge is set to begin this month.

Developers behind the project to convert the Old Stables in Y Plas say building work will begin later in September.

After a long development stage, funding for the first phase of work has been raised from Cadw, Heritage Lottery and the Welsh Government’s Transforming Towns initiative.

The Stables were built in the 1840s for stabling the horses and carriages belonging to the Londonderry family, but since 2007 the Grade II-listed building has been unused and fallen into a state of disrepair.

Cllr David Selby, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys, said: “It’s exciting to see progress being made on this project which could prove to be of huge economic value to Machynlleth.

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“It’s a town which attracts many visitors throughout the year and has also become well known for its comedy, music and arts festivals. I hope the creation of this different type of visitor accommodation will prompt even more people to stay in the town and spend their money there.”

The building’s owners, Machynlleth Town Council, began looking for new uses for the building in 2019, eventually settling on accommodation for people visiting who want to stay in town.

Local architects, George + Tomos produced the detailed plans for renovating and repurposing this historic building, which included making a Heritage Impact Assessment to ensure that the work done will respect the historic character of the building.

There has also been an ecological survey and a survey that identified an important bat population, with the plans also featuring a special bat void above the bicycle store.

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The first phase of the project, costing around £600,000, will include renewal of the roof and work on the structure to secure it and to make necessary repairs.

The developers added that Machynlleth residents will be kept updated via an information hub in Y Plas, and by workshops, open days, and regular newsletters.

Machynlleth Mayor Jeremy Paige said: “This is an exciting development that will provide much-needed local accommodation and will boost the town’s economy by encouraging visitors to spend locally.

"Machynlleth’s historic buildings are seen as an important asset to the town and to its community.”