Plans for a nursing care home on the Llŷn Peninsula have moved a step closer after funding was secured.

The multi-million pound project has been earmarked for the site of the Penrhos Polish Village near Pwllheli by health and council officials.

The Welsh Government says it will make funding available to allow Cyngor Gwynedd and the Betsi Cadwaladr health board to develop a outline business plan and full plans for the new nursing and residential care scheme.

The council says it will provide much needed care for people in the Llŷn and Eifionydd area and an economic boost by securing a number of skilled, long term jobs.

Cllr Dilwyn Morgan, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “Unfortunately, there is a shortage of nursing home spaces across the county, which is more acute in the Llŷn area with no provision of publicly funded spaces at all and our hope is that this this not-for-profit solution can rebalance the residential and nursing care service locally and provide more choice."

“At the moment, too many people are having to move far away from their families and all that they know, when they are at their most vulnerable."

"This grant funding from Welsh Government is taking us a step closer to creating more resilience in the care system and ensuring people have access to Welsh-language care services within their own community."

“This development will undoubtedly provide the Pwllheli area with a much-needed economic boost. Once the building phase is complete, and the home is up-and-running, I am confident that we can make the most of our Welsh-speaking local workforce as skilled employment and career progression opportunities will be available."

Two acres of land at Penrhos were transferred from the ClwydAlyn housing association to the county council, whose plans for a new care home are in tandem with further proposals for low carbon homes with health and care provision on the same time.

When it's completed, the care facility would include 32 residential dementia beds and 24 nursing beds, of which many would be prioritised for nursing dementia care.

The housing development will mainly provide homes for people with care and support needs, including current residents of the Penrhos Polish Village, as well as offering some affordable housing for local people.

A formal planning application is now expected to be submitted in due course before the authorities involved make a further bid for Welsh Government funding.

Dyfed Edwards, chair of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: "We are delighted to be working with Cyngor Gwynedd on this exciting and innovative project to increase residential and nursing care home capacity on the Llŷn Peninsula."

"It is really important that we can give more options to local people so that they can receive care closer to their home and families and the proposed development will help us achieve this."

Craig Sparrow, executive development director at ClwydAlyn, added: "We are proud to play a key role in this transformative project which will see Penrhos become a community hub."

"By working closely with our partners, we are not only addressing urgent care needs in the area but also fostering a supportive environment for residents."

"This development embodies our commitment to building not just homes, but communities that support wellbeing and quality of life for all, while also providing high-quality, sustainable housing and care solutions."