Portsmouth council set to buy three student blocks to house the homeless

Plans are in place to purchase The Registry block in St Michael's Road, and Kingsway House and the Elm Grove Library, both in Elm Grove, to re-purpose them for the homeless.

The Registry and Elm Grove Library are already being used by the council to house up to 110 rough sleepers who were living in hotels during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic.

But as part of Portsmouth City Council's three-year strategy to end rough sleeping the authority is looking to continue to use the blocks as temporary accommodation of up to a few months per individual.

Councillor Darren Sanders, the council's housing boss, said: 'By buying three blocks we will put the city in a good position to be able to house rough sleepers or those who may be forced to sleep on the streets as a result of the ban on evictions being lifted and the likely increased unemployment because of the virus.

'It's an insurance policy for the city to give people who say suffer as a result of the virus safe and secure accommodation for the future.'

It comes after Portsmouth council was awarded £4.6m from the government for its three-year strategy to end rough sleeping, which also includes finding private accommodation and shared homes for homeless people.

Cllr Sanders added: 'Part of the funds to buy the blocks will come from the money given by government but the rest will come from borrowing money in such a way that we will be able to pay it back.'

As part of the proposals 24-hour support for residents will be provided. And a security firm will be employed during the set-up of the premises and will continue if necessary.

Planning permission needs to be granted to secure the permanent change of use of the existing premises before the council buys them. It will not involve any physical changes.

Residents can provide feedback on the plans at portsmouth.gov.uk/services/council-and-democracy/your-say.

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