Plans revealed to revamp historic Lancaster property into housing for homeless people

Tuesday, 2 January 2024 16:24

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

Plans have been unveiled to convert a listed Georgian property in Lancaster into supported housing for homeless people.

The Grade II listed 87 King Street, most recently home to a Citizen's Advice Bureau, would be converted into four self-contained flats if plans get the green light.

The end-of-terrace building overlooks Queens Square and is owned by Lancaster City Council. Citizen's Advice Bureau moved out in 2021 and the three-storey premises has been empty ever since.

The plans are part of the council's strategy to provide short-term supported housing for single homeless people across the district.

Proposals for 87 King Street include an office space/training room and a communal kitchen for staff.

"At present, within the city centre area, there are three other existing services run by Calico House Group at 50 Portland Street (4 units), 50 Aldcliffe Road (8 units) and 3A Mary Street Lancaster (5 units), which provides shared supported housing with a staff team based at 50 Aldcliffe Road and visiting support at the other two premises," said a Design and Access statement provided with the plans.

"A purpose built facility was commissioned some years ago at Oak Tree House, West Road Lancaster, run by Jigsaw Homes which provides 23 units and is the largest facility for single homeless households in Lancaster, but in more recent years, there has been a pressing need to increase the number of bedspaces available.

"87 King Street along with Jubilee Court (12 apartments with no office or communal facilities) will provide self-contained accommodation with tenancy related visiting support (not care) and are envisaged to provide the final stage supported accommodation, where support will eventually taper off and provide a more independent setting for the client group.

"Since the beginning of the pandemic, considerable efforts have been made by the city council to bring all rough sleepers indoors. Because of the lack of suitable move on accommodation becoming available within the existing social housing stock, it has been necessary to increase the supply of short term supported housing services locally, with Mary Street being the most recent addition of five additional shared supported housing beds in the city centre.

"The pressures are still ongoing with the most recent increase of capacity in the form of 12 additional apartments having been handed over in early 2023 but the pressures and demand for temporary accommodation is not expected to reduce over the short/medium term.

"At present, all existing supported housing schemes are currently at capacity and further individuals are currently placed in bed and breakfast accommodation within the district."

The plans also include the installation of roof lights, alterations to window/door openings and replacement windows, a new stone window head to the front elevation, installation of vents to the side and the roof, new rainwater goods and change of use of part of adjacent car park to a site bin store.

The council will make a decision on planning permission in due course.