Plans for new temporary accommodation in Chichester progress as homelessness rises

Chichester District Council has appointed a contractor, the construction company W.Stirland, to redevelop a site in Freeland Close to provide an additional 17 flats for homeless people.

It comes as the number of people presenting as homeless in the district rises.

The plans will see an existing single-storey bungalow in Freeland Close, which is used by the council as temporary accommodation, demolished.

A new L-shaped building housing 17 flats will be built, serving as an extension of services currently provided at Westward House, which is run and managed by the council’s housing services.

Councillor Alan Sutton, Cabinet Member for Housing, Communications, Licensing and Events at Chichester District Council, said: “We are incredibly pleased to announce that we have reached this important milestone.

“Appointing a contractor signals a key step forward in a project that we know will make a real long-term difference to people.”

Work is expected to start on the site later this year.

Mr Sutton said the council’s existing emergency accommodation had been operating at full capacity for the past year.

“As a result of the coronavirus crisis, the demand for temporary accommodation has been even greater, making this project even more important,” he said.

“We are committed to reducing homelessness in the district, and this is one of a number of initiatives we have introduced to tackle the issue.

“The council has dedicated outreach workers who provide much-needed support and guidance to help rough sleepers rebuild their lives.

“This year, we also secured more than £250,000 in Government funding towards supporting rough sleepers in our district.

“£230,000 of this was used to enhance local services, including: additional outreach staff, a dual diagnosis worker, and the extension of the opening hours of Stonepillow’s day centre hub from five to seven days a week.

“A further £23,000 was received to help provide short-term accommodation for rough sleepers during the current pandemic.

“We’re lucky to have such incredible homelessness charities in our area, particularly during the current crisis, and we work closely with them to support those who are rough sleeping.”

Shaun Stirland, Managing Director of W.Stirland, says, “We couldn’t be more delighted to be working with the council on this project.

“As a family owned business, based locally in Birdham within the Chichester District, we are delighted to have been appointed to undertake the development at Freeland Close.

“Being part of the delivery of new short-stay accommodation for residents who really need it makes the project all the more important to us.

“We are starting some of the initial surveying and design works straightaway and we look forward to getting work started on site by the end of this year.”