Homeless pods still waiting for council approval
HOMES for homeless people in Newport are yet to receive approval from the city council six months after they were moved onto the site and days before tenants move in.
The 12 modular homes at Newport’s Hill Street car park were rejected by the council’s planning committee in December, but Linc Cymru moved the structures onto the site anyway in February with the protection of legislation set out by the Welsh Government that housing associations could effectively bypass usual planning processes to urgently house homeless people during the pandemic.
That process is due to expire by February – 12 months after work started on the site, and so Linc Cymru urgently requires approval from the council to ensure the homes will not be removed.
Tenants will begin moving into the homes in August regardless of approval from the council.
A Newport council spokesman said if approval is not granted the council would have no choice but to order the removal of the structures.
Andrew Beale, Linc Cymru project manager, said since the plans were rejected by five votes to four in December the housing association has worked on developing the scheme.
“Various design changes have been made to visibly improve the scheme, meet council officer requirements and provide an enhanced environment for all people living there and nearby.”
A fresh application has now been submitted and will again go before the planning committee in September. Mr Beale added: “We have maintained an ongoing dialogue with the council leadership, ward members and the community, including holding a public engagement event.”
Accommodation for Newport’s homeless and vulnerable people has been a long-running bone of contention in the city in recent years.
A number of temporary accommodation services have been set up in and around the city centre to house people quickly, but many have been critical of the concentration of the services and the impact on residents and visitors.
When the homes started being transported onto the Hill Street site in February one resident said: “We are completely against it. This is supposed to be a town centre and should stay as a car park. Children used to play over there too.”
But not everyone opposed the plans. Betty Smith, 72, said: “I have no problem with it. It was always going to happen. They have got to go somewhere, not everyone is lucky to have a place to live. You have got to give people a chance and a place to start.”
Fran Richley, operations manager at Eden Gate, a charity for vulnerable people in Newport, said: “I think the site is a positive thing for Newport. It will be important as it provides people with more permanent accommodation. Something like this gives people hope.”
A Linc Cymru spokesman said the modular homes are crucial to helping people move away from temporary living and into “much-needed permanent homes”.
“Our Hill Street project will see 12 people move away from temporary accommodation and into high-quality, permanent homes,” they said.
Like the original plans, the revised proposal is for a two-storey building with 12 one-person apartments with decking and balcony space. The new building is located on the eastern side of the car park, while 28 spaces are expected to be retained for the public.