A Health and Wellbeing Centre in Cross Hands is one step closer to becoming a reality after Carmarthenshire council planning bosses approved the scheme.

The proposed centre will be developed on approximately 1.24 hectares of land, located north of, and adjacent to, the existing Cross Hands retail park, known as Parc yr Eithin.

Hywel Dda University Health Board is leading the project in partnership with Carmarthenshire County Council and the two local GP practices; Tumble and Penygroes. Other service providers are also involved in the co-production of the proposals including Swansea University School of Medicine, Dyfed-Powys police and third sector partners.

The county's planning committee approved the outline planning application at its meeting last week.

Speaking following the decision, Llannon ward member and council leader, Emlyn Dole said: “I am pleased that progress is now being made to deliver a facility which brings together primary care, community nursing, social services and a range of other public services.”

Gorslas ward member Darren Price added: “I would commend the health board for undertaking community consultation events in developing this proposal, which is welcome. It is pleasing to see that the Centre will have a number of services delivered from it. With a library, café and community police office, in addition to the health and care services, the centre has the potential to become a real community hub.”

Fellow Gorslas ward member Aled Vaughan Owen added: “There is no doubt that our residents in Gorslas, Cefneithin and Drefach will benefit immensely from this new proposed Health and Wellbeing centre. It is clear that the current surgery on Carmarthen Road is not able to meet the needs of the growing population locally. Residents have waited quite some time for this facility, and now that the outline planning application has been approved, we need to ensure that the plans are refined quickly so that work can start on site as soon as is possible.”