Homelessness charity to convert building into flats

A homelessness charity says it is "fantastic" to get the green light for plans to turn a historical building into supported living accommodation.

One Roof Leicester is adding 6-8 St Martins to its network of shared houses for people looking to escape rough sleeping.

The 18th Century Grade II listed building, next door to the King Richard III Visitor Centre, will become 13 self-contained flats.

One Roof chief executive Salma Ravat said the site would become their clients' "last step in their journey towards independent living".

She said: "To finally get the letter approving the planning application was fantastic for us.

"It's the first step - the real hard work starts now."

Approving the conversion, planning officers at Leicester City Council said the work needed was "relatively minor" and would not "result in the loss" of any historical elements of the building.

One Roof Leicester staff will be relocated from their current offices in Regents Road to St Martins, with a chapel reworked as an open plan office.

Ms Ravat said the site had most recently been used as a religious centre for people interested in joining the clergy.

The diocese said in planning documents it had entered into a rent agreement described as being "far below the market average" with One Roof Leicester, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Ms Ravat said: "It became empty just over a year or so ago, and the diocese approached us to see if we'd like to use the building for our work.

"It will give some of our residents the opportunity to learn life skills, paying bills, cooking and cleaning.

"We've got space on the ground floor, so we'll be able to provide on-site training and bring communities into the building.

"This is very much about building community, building a network of support for people who have already proven themselves to be able to live in a shared house.

"The plan is once they're here, we support them and equip them with the skills they need to find an appropriate home."

The planning proposals received wide support, with all 49 representations made by members of the public being in support.

One Roof said it hoped to welcome its first residents into St Martin's by summer 2025.

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