Fewer houses than planned are likely to be built at a former Swansea psychiatric hospital because part of the land is needed for a new ward. The long-term plan was to demolish Tycoch’s Cefn Coed hospital and use the large site at the top of the hill to build around 350 new homes.

Swansea Bay University Health Board said the number would now be around 170 homes, as a new unit for adults with acute mental illness is proposed in one corner of the site, with additional parking space and possible future expansion. The health authority has acquired a vacant building from the Welsh Ambulance Trust in Cefn Coed, which it will demolish before building a new mental health unit, subject to planning and other approvals.

The update took place at a health board meeting, amid discussions about the aging of the organization’s building, how to maintain it and, where possible, improve it over the next decade, as well as the challenges of a maintenance backlog of £102 million.

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Darren Griffiths, director of finance and performance, said the “old and derelict” site behind Harngoch Hospital, near Gorseynon, would be sold subject to Welsh Government approval. Meanwhile, discussions were taking place over the future of the health board’s headquarters in Phillips Parade, Swansea.

Health bosses have also been told that the area near the main entrance to Morriston Hospital, which was converted into a ward during the Covid pandemic, will return to its previous design. There will be a waiting area for patients and visitors, a space dedicated to staff care and services, including a discharge room and blood tests. A report presented to the council said: “Other benefits include the opening and increased footfall of stores – Costa, Subway and WH Smiths.” The health board hopes to begin work in January next year. Meanwhile, ongoing renovations at Morriston Hospital will continue, including the installation of new fire alarms and urgent roof repairs to four wards.

Health chiefs were told in May of a backlog of more than £100m in maintenance, the majority of which relates to Singleton Hospital (£44m) and Morriston Hospital (£38m). A report at the time predicted that £812 million would be needed over the next 10 years to improve the health board’s global assets and expand specialist services, but funding sources are limited.

Griffiths said the council had asked the Welsh Government for help and wanted to “think freely” about funding. On the positive side, ministers recently approved almost £8 million to move the critical burns unit from Morriston Hospital to the general intensive care unit, as well as other improvements.

The property report, which was discussed at the meeting on 30 November, added that candidates for housing on health council land are being identified for inclusion in Swansea Council’s next local development funding plan.