A NEW Valleys hospice is one step closer to being built after councillors at Blaenau Gwent agreed the planning conditions.

In July, planners gave permission for a new Hospice of the Valleys day centre at The Works site in Ebbw Vale – despite objections from their own officers – but with planning conditions.

Yesterday at a meeting of the planning committee councillors agreed the planning conditions, which states samples of all external materials must be submitted for the approval of the planning department, and that the hospice is not to be used until car parking is surfaced and drained in accordance with the approved details. The hospice has already had outline planning permission for the site approved, but the committee has now approved the conditions attached to reserved matters.

On July 4 members of Blaenau Gwent council’s planning committee went against the council’s planning officers, who recommended rejecting the plans, describing them as “aesthetically displeasing”. While there were no planning objections in regards to highways, accesses or environmental health, officers said the problem was the appearance of the building, which they claimed does not fit in with the rest of The Works’ buildings.

But councillors ruled in favour of the plans, with many members of the committee saying they preferred the “friendly-looking” hospice plans to many of the existing buildings at The Works site, which they said looked like they were from the “space age”.

The plans feature six treatment rooms, a children’s suite, multi-purpose spaces and storage, a multi-function hall, office space, staff facilities, a library, training suite and staff accommodation.

Andrew Richards, chief executive of Hospice of the Valleys, told the committee in July: “The Hospice has been working in Blaenau Gwent for more than 21 years and has cared for nearly 5,000 patients, their families and loved ones. During this period we have had to provide essential care from a variety of make-do premises such as sports clubs, church halls and community centres. None of these premises are satisfactory and are certainly not conducive to good patient care.”

Mr Richards said the design was arrived at following extensive consultation.