WORK is well underway on a multi-million pound extra care facility at the site of a former town school.

Holywell's Extra Care Development is currently under construction on the former Ysgol Perth-y-Terfyn site, Halkyn Street, and developers are inviting residents to view a virtual walkthrough video of the facility.

Site activity to date has included demolition and clearing, and enabling works before preparation began at the beginning of July.

Cllr Christine Jones, Flintshire Council’s cabinet member for social services said: "This is another great step forward for our latest extra care scheme in Flintshire.

"With the council working in partnership together with Wales and West Housing Association and Anwyl Construction, we are all looking forward to seeing this scheme come to fruition. The new facility in Holywell will provide excellent facilities to make a real difference to residents' lives."

The project aims to see a "huge uplift to the local economy" with plans which consist of a four-storey structure, encompassing 43 one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroomed apartments.

The Holywell Extra Care Development will provide 24 hour support for its residents, including dementia care to be managed by registered housing provider Wales and West Housing.

The project is also recruiting local businesses to work on site, and recycling schemes have seen mobile machines brought on to site to crush the brick, hardcore and concrete from the old school so it can be recycled on-site to produce high quality aggregate and ensure a sustainable use of these waste materials.

Simon Rose, commercial manager of the £8.5m project said: "We fully appreciate the importance of recycling as much as possible and we are fully committed to making the most sustainable use of materials. The aggregate made from the materials of the old building are being re-used on site which also cuts down on the number of vehicles that would otherwise have had to carry waste away therefore improving our carbon footprint.

"Our thoughtful, sustainable approach is aimed at reducing each project's environmental impact so that we not only deliver excellence and innovation in construction, but also in social and environmental value."