The new residential block, called Mill Pond House, offers short-term accommodation for people while Wyre Forest District Council (WFDC) helps them to find a permanent home.
Mill Pond House, which includes rooftop solar panels so it can be powered by renewable energy, was delivered by team led by Make NW and delivery partner Stepnell Construction on behalf of the council. Construction work to build the 20 new en-suite apartments, which includes seven double bedroom flats, seven single bedrooms flats and six flats for disabled people, began in February 2024.
Councillor Chris Rogers, WFDC’s cabinet member for housing, health and well-being said: “It’s great to see Millpond House open its doors. The provision of short-term housing is a key part of our Corporate Plan 2023-26, and the completion of Millpond House is a crucial milestone. We are supporting individuals to find permanent housing and creating a positive impact within our local community.”
The ever-increasing cost of temporary accommodation has become a growing national issue for local authorities across England.
The latest government data showed councils across England spent a total of £2.3bn on temporary accommodation between April 2023 and March 2024, an increase of almost a third (29%) year-on-year. Across England council spending on temporary accommodation has almost doubled over the past five-years, having increased by 97%.
More than one third of the total expenditure – £780m – was spent on emergency B&Bs. This type of accommodation is often considered the worst type of temporary accommodation as it often sees households, including families, placed together in a single cramped room, often with no support.
Patrick Hickey, director at Make NW, said: “This new development shows what can be achieved when a council takes a strategic invest to save approach to tackling homelessness.
“By investing to build new accommodation on an underused car park Wyre Forest District Council is saving money on unsuitable and expensive emergency B&Bs. This capital investment was carefully assessed and had to achieve strict criteria to help deliver value for money.
“More importantly than that it is creating better outcomes for people and their families. Delivering new housing is ultimately all about people. This new accommodation creates high-quality spaces for people to get back on their feet so they are ready to work, go into education or training and reconnect with friends and family.”