Town centre homeless accommodation for 60 approved

Student accommodation is to be repurposed for homeless people.

The scheme at The Tannery on Barker Street in Shrewsbury will provide 60 en-suite rooms with communal cooking and living areas.

They will be used to temporarily accommodate people who have lost their permanent homes, Shropshire Council said. A planning officer said there would be an on-site office with suitable security.

The student rooms fell vacant after the closure of University Centre Shrewsbury.

The plans were submitted by the council's housing company Cornovii, and agreed by planning officers under delegated powers, rather than by a planning committee.

During a public consultation on the plans, one objection was received on the grounds of "increased noise and disturbance", and concern for people using the neighbouring pharmacy.

Shrewsbury Town Council welcomed the plans, although it questioned whether provision could be made for homeless families alongside single people.

The application said the council did not currently have sufficient supported accommodation, and incurred "significant costs" in providing homeless residents with bed and breakfast, private rented, or social properties.

Plans state the scheme would be staffed round-the-clock by at least two members of staff, and antisocial behaviour would result in eviction.

The management plan also said residents who are deemed "high-risk" or with a history of arson would not be accommodated.

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