Housing Minister Huw Lewis is to cut the first sod on the site of a new bungalow scheme being delivered by Carmarthenshire County Council.
The council has been given the go-ahead to start the £3.6million scheme which will see 39 two-bedroom bungalows being built across three sites in Carmarthenshire.
The bungalows will be the first that the council has purpose-built for older people in the county since the 1980s.
As part of the first phase, eight will be built in Morfa Maen, Kidwelly, and five at Llysnewydd, Seaside, Llanelli, where Mr Lewis will cut the first sod on Thursday (October 4).
A second phase will deliver more bungalows at Y Waun, in Pemberton, Llanelli, with other sites in the county also being considered.
Outline planning permission is already in place, and a contractor has been appointed.
Detailed plans will be submitted later this month (October), with work due to start on the first phase in February 2013.
The council’s application to build the bungalows was approved by Welsh Government in April 2011.
Negotiations have since taken place to agree legal matters, and formal agreement was signed by the Housing Minister mid-September.
Revenue generated from rental income, together with the Housing Revenue Account, will support the £3.6million capital costs.
Housing Executive Board Member Cllr Tegwen Devichand said: “The bungalows form part of an overall plan to help older people to live independently in their own homes.
“We hope that they will also relieve some of the demand for disabled home adaptations, and free up two or three-bedroom homes which are more suited to families.”
Council Leader, Cllr Kevin Madge, added: “We have been waiting for a long time to deliver this scheme which will provide purpose-built accommodation for people who need a smaller, more manageable home to live independently.
“As an added bonus, the development will create a range of jobs which will be a welcome boost to the local construction industry.
“We are delighted that the Minister has agreed to visit Llanelli to cut the first sod on the Llysnewydd site.”
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