A FORMER town centre pub could be turned into the UK’s first specialised care home for residents who have Huntington’s Disease.

A planning application received by Wrexham Council requests permission for a 14-bed residential care home and six single bedroom apartments on the site of the Green Dragon Hotel, in Salop Road, Wrexham.

The plans also propose 16 car parking spaces,
cycle storage and landscape garden amenity areas at the site.

According to a design and access statement submitted with the application, the project aims to provide a safe, secure environment for Huntington’s Disease sufferers, their carers and family.

It adds: “Huntington’s Disease (HD) is a degenerative genetic disorder of the central nervous system that affects people’s physical, behavioural and cognitive abilities and usually results in movement, thinking and psychiatric disorders.

“Our current service,
Ty Brian, located within the campus red line at Bennions Road, is registered with the Care and Social Services Inspectorate in Wales for individuals under the age of 65 who have mental health problems.

“We did not set out to provide a service for individuals with HD and accepted our first client as an emergency placement. We have had a further three enquiries from the Huntington’s Disease Association about possible further placements but were unable to provide appropriate ground floor accommodation and
Ty Brian does not have a lift.

“The Huntington’s Disease Association, which provides assistance to those suffering from the disease and their families, advises their is currently no facility in the UK which caters specifically for the needs of such individuals and this provision would be a major step forward in provided much needed residential care, support and intervention.

“The primary residential areas of the care home are 14 en suite bedrooms, lounges, dining rooms, meeting room, quiet room, therapy room, laundry, kitchen.

“The service will be operating 24 hours a day/ 365 days of the year. We anticipate the majority of new jobs will be filled by local residents in view of the convenience between workplace and place of residence.”

The document adds the planned staff breakdown is five qualified nursing staff, 15 care assistants, five catering and household staff, as well as two administration and maintenance staff.