Senior Caerphilly councillors have backed plans to spend more than £2.1 million on a “flagship” multi-purpose visitor centre at Parc Penallta.
Due to the pandemic, more people used the park in Ystrad Mynach and Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet has said this demonstrates the need for a visitor centre.
Cllr Nigel George, cabinet member with responsibility for parks and countryside, said: “The enhancement of this country park will reinforce the importance of our environments and landscapes, the health and wellbeing of our communities and contribute towards a strong identity for Caerphilly County Borough, the Valleys Regional Park and Wales as a whole.”
Welsh Government will provide a grant of £903,000 towards the project, while the council will fund the remaining £1,168,000 from the Corporate Projects budget.
Costs could be increased as the tender process is set to take place again due to the time that has passed since the initial one – this will provide a final price for the project.
At a cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, March 9, the leader of the council, Cllr Philippa Marsden, said the space could be used for “agile working” by those who work from home.
Cllr Jamie Pritchard, cabinet member for infrastructure and property, praised the proposal and said it would help to encourage people to go to open spaces to better their health and wellbeing.
Timber from Parc Penallta will be prepared and used to build part of the centre.
Planning permission will need to be granted for the project before it can continue – if approved the centre is expected to be completed by spring 2023.
It is expected that improvements to the A472 would be a condition of planning permission for the site being granted.
