Have your say: Budget Consultation 2026
Council agrees to invest in new residential home for children
Wednesday 21 January 2026
Bridgend County Borough Council has agreed to invest £1.62m into improving services for looked-after children by developing a new residential home within the local area.
The move forms part of the council’s efforts to comply with the Health and Social Care (Wales) Act 2025, which is seeking to phase out the use of facilities that provide care for profit by 2030.
As a result of the decision, the authority expects to save just under £300,000 per year by avoiding having to locate and fund places for children in privately run facilities or premises which are located outside of the county borough.
Described as being a larger four-bedroom rural property, the intention is for the council to use its own capital budget to purchase the proposed care home on the open market and to cover land transaction and refurbishment prior to submitting a bid to Welsh Government’s Housing with Care Fund.
“The purchase of the home needs to be made by 31 March due to funding terms and conditions, so we are taking action on this now as doing nothing is not a viable option under the new Act. “As well as helping us to avoid having to use premises that operate for profit or which may be located a considerable distance away from the local area, having a residential home based within Bridgend County Borough will help us to support children by keeping them within familiar surroundings amid increased stability and improved safeguarding arrangements. “This decision is going to deliver a new, long-term asset at no additional net capital cost, and will enable us to make further revenue savings on an annual basis.”