Veterans' housing development for Cwmbran (From Free Press Series)

Veterans' housing development for Cwmbran

10:25am Friday 6th November 2009 in News By Free Press reporter

ARMED forces veterans could be housed in a new flagship development in Cwmbran, the Assembly announced yesterday.

Health minister Edwina Hart announced a group would be set up to look at developing a housing project for veterans on part of the Llanfrechfa Grange Hospital site, following a meeting with leading members of Torfaen Council. The group will be made up of officials from the Assembly’s health and housing departments, the council and the Aneurin Bevan Health Board.

Details over how many houses will be involved in the project and which veterans will be eligible have not yet been decided, but it is understood the project will be a substantial development.

An Assembly spokesman said the project was prompted by evidence which showed servicemen and women leaving the forces often had difficulty adjusting to civilian life, with housing being one of the main problems.

Ms Hart said: “Our servicemen and women do an outstanding job and we all owe them a debt of gratitude and duty of care. I take my responsibility towards veterans extremely seriously.”

In addition to developing housing for veterans and their families, the group will look at including low-cost housing in the project.

The project will not affect proposals for a Specialist Critical Care Centre on the site.

Cllr Bob Wellington, Torfaen council leader, welcomed the news.

He said: “At this time of year we always remember the enormous contribution and sacrifice that our servicemen and women make and the debt that we owe them.”

Ms Hart’s announcement follows Jocelyn Davies AM, deputy housing minister, decision earlier this year that funding will be allocated for the development of housing services directory for veterans.