Health and Care Academy plans at Bronllys hospital near Brecon
A planning application has been submitted to develop a training academy that will produce health and care workers in Powys.
Powys Teaching Health Board has submitted a Listed Building Consent application to turn the Grade II listed Basil Webb Hall, at Bronllys Hospital near Brecon, into a “modern flexible, conference and learning facility”.
The agent for the scheme, Cardiff-based Pentan architects, explained in the Heritage Impact Statement which accompanies the application that another LBC application will be submitted for the outside of the building.
Pentan said: “The aim of the project will be to refurbish and refit the building to create a modern, flexible conference, learning facility in partnership with Powys County Council: The Bronllys Health and Care Academy.
“The building originates as a recreation hall within the wider Bronllys Hospital which was established as a sanatorium for tuberculosis sufferers in 1920.
“It is currently used for office and conference space by PTHB.”
The application is to allow the inside of the building to be altered and to reconfigure the existing office space so that it can be better used as a teaching facility.
The company has already met with the council’s planning conservation officer, Debra Lewis, who observed that a main characteristic of the building is that it’s “light and airy”.
This was due to being used for tuberculosis therapy, and any changes would need to reflect this characteristic.
Cadw, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service will need to be consulted on any changes to the building’s outside, which will be made in a separate application.
The academy proposal is a joint venture for the health board and council.
The health board gave the project the go ahead at its last board meeting in November.
It was also supported by the council’s cabinet at a meeting in December.
The academy is supposed to address the shortage of health and care staff in the county, by being able to train up new workers for the health and local authorities.
The building was built as a memorial to Second Lieutenant Thomas Henry Basil Webb, of the Welsh Guards, who was killed in action during World War One on December 1, 1917.
His father, Sir Henry Webb was a Liberal politician who was elected as an MP for the Forest of Dean from 1911 to 1918 serving as Junior Lord of the Treasury from 1912 to 1915.
He was also elected as an MP for Cardiff East from 1923 to 1924.
The hall was opened on July 17, 1920 by King George V and Queen Mary.
