You’ve heard of a barn conversion or old churches being turned into apartments and going up for sale, but an old asylum? That sounds a little eerier, to say the least.
But that’s exactly what Carmarthenshire Council has recently flogged. The Parc Dewi Sant complex on the outskirts of Carmarthen, Wales dates back to the Victorian era. Built in 1865, it functioned as the Carmarthenshire, Cardigan and Pembrokeshire County Asylum. It was later expanded, and had over 900 beds by the late 1970s.
The complex is spread over 38 acres and features 22 buildings, one of which is Grade II-listed. It features segregated exercise yards, workshops, infirmary blocks, a dining hall, a chapel and even a detached hospital. In recent years, it has served several purposes, from housing council offices to having a campus for Swansea University.
And it all recently went up for sale, with Parc Dewi Sant apparently receiving offers in excess of £2.5 million. In recent years, the building has apparently cost an absolute fortune to run. Selling it will save Carmarthenshire Council a whopping £200,000 per year in maintenance costs.
According to the Tenby Observer, council cabinet members have accepted an offer, but it will be on a longhold lease basis, meaning the council will have a say in the use of the buildings for at least the next 25 years.
Some council staff will stay at Par Dewi Sant for a short period, while most will move to other offices. Other organisations which occupy space in the building will keep their tenancy rights.
In the future, parts of the site could be turned into residential housing, and new builds could be added, too. However, proposals which will help support the town financially are particularly welcome.
It looks like we’ll have to wait and see what the future holds for this former asylum. But from the campaign to try and save Britain’s oldest sauna to this massive makeover happening at Leeds’ Tetley building, Time Out keeps you up to date on all the latest property news across the UK.
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