Flats for 50 homeless families approved in city

Flats for 50 homeless families in a supported temporary housing block have been approved, despite opposition from residents.

The three-storey block on Faseman Avenue, Tile Hill, Coventry, is to help the "most vulnerable" people who could be forced to stay in B&Bs or hotels, according to city council papers.

The authority and housing provider Citizen put forward joint plans for the scheme that was approved by councillors at a meeting on 20 March.

More than 300 people signed petitions against the project, which is on the site of a former community centre, raising 10 different concerns. But planning officers said it was overall a "good quality scheme" meeting a clear need.

It comes as more families in Coventry are homeless, with almost 950 currently in temporary housing compared with 790 families in February 2024.

The building will replace Frank Walsh House, a 1980s building in Hillfields, which was converted into temporary housing five years ago and is set to be demolished.

Objections included concerns over noise pollution and traffic as well as fears of higher crime in the area.

An objector at the meeting said the scheme's parking spaces were "inadequate", living spaces "cramped", and it did not include extra services to support people living there.

Some councillors also criticised the flats' size and impact on local residents but also stressed the need to support vulnerable people.

Council officers defended the scheme. Head of housing Jim Crawshaw admitted it was "not ideal" but said every family would have their own front door, kitchen, living room and children's bedrooms.

The council was "proud" to have no families in B&Bs but "wants to keep it that way," he added.

"These are local families who, for a variety of reasons, have become homeless, with the vast, vast majority of them through no fault of their own," Mr Crawshall said.

He disagreed there would be an increase in crime, while on traffic concerns he said most people in temporary housing did not have access to cars.

Planning committee members voted unanimously to delegate permission for the scheme to officers.

It means the building will go ahead after a legal agreement and any other conditions are in place.

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This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.