Flats built on the site of a former police station could now be used to house families experiencing homelessness. Nottingham City Council had initially proposed the apartments be put on the market for rent, however, an 'urgent' need for temporary accommodation means a change of use is proposed.
Nottinghamshire Police left the station in Meadows Way West in 2015, and five years later it was demolished to make way for 21 apartments for private rent. The Labour-run authority, however, says the need for temporary accommodation in the city has since become more severe, and it has approached Nottingham City Homes proposing it be used for housing for families at risk of or experiencing homelessness.
The council says: "Since the 2019 decision, the need for additional temporary accommodation has become more acute. NCH agreed that, at least in the short term, it would utilise the Midland House building as temporary accommodation for families to whom the council has a duty."
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Nottingham City Homes Limited (NCH) is the parent company for two smaller companies called Nottingham City Homes Enterprises Limited (NCH EL) and Nottingham City Homes Registered Provider (NCH RP). The former lets out real estate for rent on the market, while the latter is able to manage ventures such as temporary accommodation.
In September 2019, the council says it approved a £3.9m loan to NCH EL to fund the development of rentable apartments on the police station site. However, due to the proposed change of use, NCH RP could now manage the Midland House development, which has been completed, meaning it is now proposed the loan would be given to this company instead.
"This would involve leasing the property to NCH RP to manage because, as a registered provider, NCH RP is capable of claiming enhanced housing benefit to meet the costs of this accommodation," the council adds. "In this way, this would save the council over £500,000 per year in its temporary accommodation budget."
Planning permission was granted back in November 2018 for a multiple storey building on the site, with a new junction proposed off Rutland Close to connect it with Meadows Way. Residents in the area had given mixed views around the time the plans were due to be decided, with some saying "they're trying to cram too much into one place".
And Nick Murphy, chief executive of Nottingham City Homes, had said "redeveloping this high-profile site on the tram route will transform the area, creating an impressive gateway to the Meadows and NG2." If the need for temporary accommodation decreases, the building could be sold or utilised for an alternative purpose, including what had been initially proposed in the first place.
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