Police and fire services in Powys council shared building plan

Powys council said Neuadd Maldwyn was is need of £3m worth of repairs

Major multi-million pound plans for new council offices on a shared site with police, ambulance and fire stations have been unveiled.

Powys council wants to build a multi-agency base in Welshpool on the town's former swimming baths.

The wider site could also include flats, a library and Powys Teaching Local Health Board district offices.

The council's cabinet is being asked to set up a working group to investigate the project's potential.

The authority said the plan was about making better use of public assets but it stressed it was at a "very early stage".

Its district office in the town, the Grade II-listed Neuadd Maldwyn, and the town's existing police, fire and ambulance stations are all within a few metres of each other.

The authority plans to sell Neuadd Maldwyn, which is in need of £3m worth repairs, to help fund the proposed new offices in Howell Drive.

The council said the wider site could also include Powys Teaching Local Health Board, HM Customs and Revenue, a job centre and town council staff.

Sheltered housing for the elderly and possibly a new day care centre, a GPs' surgery, private flats, a library and a refurbished or new primary school and youth centre are also planned.

'Huge potential'

Garry Banks, who is responsible for localism on Powys council's cabinet, said there was potential to provide Welshpool with a range of "outstanding" bases for public services.

"Officers have identified that there is huge potential in Welshpool to collaborate and provide state of the art, modern, fit for purpose facilities," added Mr Banks in a report before the cabinet on Tuesday.

He said the scheme could also act as a catalyst for substantial town centre regeneration.

Police, fire crews and a magistrates' court moved into a new shared building in Llandrindod Wells last year in what was thought to be one of the first of its type in Wales.