Business case to secure capital funding for a new care home for Carmarthenshire

The assignment

When the former Plas Y Bryn care home closed in 2022, Carmarthenshire County Council saw the opportunity to bring the site back into use and tackle a critical shortage of residential and nursing care. The Council needed to make the case to Welsh Government for IRCF (The Health and Social Care Integration and Rebalancing Capital Fund) funding to deliver a modern, dual-registered 60-bed facility.

31ten was first commissioned to prepare a Green Book compliant Outline Business Case (OBC) which was subsequently approved by the Welsh Government and granted initial funding to enable the Council to fund the project’s progression to Full Business Case (FBC) stage. 31ten was subsequently commissioned to develop the Full Business Case (FBC) for submission to Welsh Government, alongside an additional feasibility report to look at the delivery model options for joint delivery of nursing provision with the Regional Partnership Board (RPB).

Our role

31ten worked alongside the Council’s project team across these three distinct work programmes to ultimately deliver a comprehensive FBC in line with HM Treasury’s Green Book 5 Case Model.

Our work included:

Delivering an OBC, working collaboratively with the project team at the council, to gather and analyse information and play back findings through ‘check and challenge workshops’ providing each stage of the business case in draft form allowing iterative development of the final product.
Delivering a feasibility report that explored different delivery and operating models for a public sector led nursing home on behalf of the regional partners of the Regional Partnership Board.
Progressing the approved OBC into a detailed FBC, covering Strategic, Economic, Commercial, Financial and Management cases through a combination of economic analysis, financial modelling, commercial dialogue and ‘check and challenge’ workshops.
Supporting the Council’s engagement with the West Wales Regional Partnership Board and Welsh Government, ensuring alignment with IRCF priorities.
Demonstrating how the scheme would deliver net zero carbon in operation, achieve BREEAM Excellent standards, incorporate technology-enabled care and meet wider local well-being goals.
Demonstrating alignment with Welsh Government’s IRCF priorities, particularly rebalancing the adult residential social care market.
Supporting the council through Welsh Government scrutiny stages following submission of both the OBC and FBC; providing follow-up support to respond to clarification questions and ensure the Welsh Government panel was satisfied with the case for Plas Y Bryn.

Key Outcomes

Strategic approval journey: 31ten supported the Council through the feasibility stage (2023), successful SOC/OBC approval (March 2025), and submission of the FBC (August 2025) for final funding approval.
Preferred option defined: The FBC confirmed the demolition and rebuild of a new 60-bed dual-registered home as the preferred option, delivering modern, flexible provision to meet a wide range of care needs, including dementia.
Rebalancing the care market: The project will bring a former private facility site into Council ownership, helping rebalance provision away from the independent sector and reduce reliance on high-cost private sector placements, in line with the Welsh Government policy direction.
Environmental and technological innovation: The new building will be net zero carbon in operation, incorporate renewable energy (air source heat pumps, solar PV), and embrace technology-enabled care.
Community and economic benefits: The redevelopment will create local employment opportunities, support upskilling, and contribute to the local economy while delivering high quality care accommodation and support for residents.
Deliverability secured: With governance, risk management, and stakeholder engagement plans in place, the FBC provided a robust platform, resulting in a successful bid for Welsh Government capital funding and progressing to construction (due to commence 2027, with completion targeted for 2028/29).

What the client said…

31ten has provided Carmarthenshire County Council with invaluable support and advice to develop a 3-stage business case to support our funding application to Welsh Government for a 60-bed dual registered nursing home. Ultimately this application has been successful, and this wouldn’t have been possible without 31ten’s expertise and support. It has been a true partnership approach between both organisations, and 31ten have been able to demonstrate a depth of understanding and knowledge not only in developing the business case itself, but also in relation to the intricacies of social care commissioning. Carmarthenshire County Council would be more than happy to work with 31ten again to support business case development, should the opportunity arise.

Alex Williams, Head of Capital Projects, Carmarthenshire County Council