Council decommissions sheltered housing schemes in favour of temporary accommodation

The report said: “A B&B reduction action plan has been developed and regular meetings are tracking progress. Actions seek to both reduce the inflow of homeless people to B&B and to increase the number moving on to both private sector and social housing. 

“This includes property acquisitions; case reviews to ensure options to prevent are fully explored; increased use of short-life properties; engaging with providers to as far as possible minimise costs and other measures.

“It is the use of additional short-life properties that is expected to make the most impact in reducing B&B usage and this is already showing positive results.”

According to the report, the proposal would not help with accommodating those who have registered for sheltered housing, but it “would still leave a considerable amount of other age-restricted housing for older people which we consider would be sufficient”. 

“The proposal would help to meet the needs of other household groups, from which there is considerable demand,” it said. 

The Gouldings is made up of 42 self-contained, one-bedroom flats and Yiewsley Court has 25.  

The council said that by decommissioning the two buildings and relocating residents to suitable alternative accommodation elsewhere in the borough, subject to planning approvals the two sites could be made available for alternative housing needs for priority groups. 

It said this will help to address both supply and cost pressures associated with temporary accommodation. 

Eddie Lavery, cabinet member for residents’ services, said: “We’re committed to creating a borough with happy, healthy households where residents can thrive.

“So, initiatives like this will help us ensure that everyone who needs a home has the opportunity to find a good one in our borough, particularly those groups or individuals with more acute needs.

“This is easier said than done in a dense, urban area like west London, so in this instance, we’ve looked at how we can use our provision of sheltered accommodation in a more efficient manner, rather than having buildings under capacity at a time of housing crisis.

“In return, this has freed up buildings which will provide vital homes for other priority groups.”

The council said it will be providing residents who have to relocate with one-to-one support throughout the process, as well as financial compensation to cover the costs and disruption.

The latest government data, published last week, revealed that English councils’ spending on temporary accommodation rose by 9% last year to hit £1.7bn.