A BID to convert a property into accommodation for overseas nursing and care staff in a rural village has been submitted to Conwy Council’s planning department. Meryl Welsby has applied for planning permission to convert Muriau Clyd, Cae Haidd to Pentrefoelas, into a house of multiple occupation (HMO).
The property has been occupied by four members of a nursing and care staff who work at the nearby Cartref Bryn yr Eglwys home, which is currently licensed under C3 use. The applicant says C3 use allows for the occupancy of a single person or family, claiming that whilst the property is already a house of multiple occupation, it doesn’t need to be licensed as an HMO, due to having four or less occupants.
But the home now wants to provide accommodation for six full-time overseas staff at Muriau Clyd, which would see the property transformed from C3 use to C4, increasing from four bedrooms to six. A planning statement reads: “Muriau Clyd was bought by Nant y Foel Cyf in 2022 to house overseas staff working at the nearby Cartref Bryn yr Eglwys Nursing Home on Nebo Road in Pentrefoelas, Conwy.
“Cartref Bryn yr Eglwys is a Care Home that is registered with Care Inspectorate Wales to provide general nursing care for up to 30 adults (over the age of 18). The care home also specializes in ‘end of life care’ and has been awarded a ‘Champion Certificate’ in providing Palliative Care.
“Cartref Bryn yr Eglwys Nursing Home is also owned by Nant y Foel Cyf and has recently celebrated 30 years as a residential nursing home provider serving communities in the upper Conwy Valley. Like all residential nursing and care homes in the UK, Cartref Bryn yr Eglwys has faced significant difficulty in attracting and retaining UK-based staff. As a result, the management team at the nursing home have been forced to recruit from overseas and now have a number of nurses and carers from overseas working full-time at the home.”
The statement added: “As the overseas carers do not have cars or UK driving licences, they need to have accommodation in Pentrefoelas, and as a small rural community, there simply isn’t sufficient accommodation available locally.” The plans will likely be discussed at a future planning committee meeting at Conwy’s Coed Pella HQ.
The accommodation would only be available to staff members while they are employed at the home, the applicant stated.
