Progress on a new health care centre in Llanbradach has seen a shift in momentum after the contractors in charge of development were announced, but health officials say a site has yet to be confirmed.
Apollo Capital Project Developments, a Welsh company with a history in delivering primary care schemes, were announced by the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board last month as the contractors appointed to develop the long-awaited health centre.
They will now work with the Health Board, local GP practices and their registered patients to oversee development.
A spokeswoman for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said: “Apollo Capital Developments have been appointed as the third party developer for the new GP practice in Llanbradach.
“At the present time they are undertaking preliminary work; which includes the identification of a site.
“This has yet to be discussed with the key partners involved within the scheme and the Health Board anticipates a decision being made regarding the preferred site to be made in the coming months.”
While an official decision is still to be made on the location for the development, it is widely believed that the site of the former church in the village is the preferred choice.
Councillor Colin Mann, who represents the Llanbradach ward with fellow Plaid Cymru councillor Rob Gough, said:
“We very much welcome this news from the Aneurin Bevan Health Board. People in Llanbradach will be delighted that a company has been appointed to construct the new health centre and they are looking forward to the centre being built on the site of the former church.
“We as local councillors and the residents of Llanbradach have attended numerous meetings and been campaigning hard for well over 10 years for this new development.
“This project has been a very long time coming, stretching back more than a decade. There has been desperate need to upgrade the health facilities for residents to 21st century standards.
“The published timescale from the health board has stated that the centre will be completed before the end of 2016. We hope that date will be met.”