Work to build temporary accommodation units in Adur and Worthing continues

After a short break due to government restrictions, construction teams working on a number of sites have picked up tools again with strict social distancing measures in place to ensure no further delay to the creation of much-needed accommodation, a council spokesman confirmed.

The first of those is the development of The Downview in Tarring Road, Worthing.

Worthing Borough Council bought the former pub in 2018 and received permission to create 17 flats on the site last year.

The first stage is converting the building into nine flats, which is due for completion this month, while work on creating a further eight units on the car park will start later this summer.

Once complete, it will provide accommodation for some of the most vulnerable people and families in the area while saving the council £90,000 a year in temporary and emergency accommodation costs, currently spent mainly on Bed and Breakfasts outside of the area, the spokesman said.

Proposals to create 19 further temporary accommodation units in the former Masonic care home in Rowlands Road are also moving forward after planning permission was granted in September 2019.

Councillor Heather Mercer, Worthing Borough Council’s Executive Member for Customer Services, which includes housing, said: “I’m delighted to see work on creating much-needed temporary accommodation is progressing at pace on both of these key sites.

“As a council we have a legal and moral duty to provide individuals and families with accommodation.

“These new properties will significantly assist us with meeting our obligations, providing good quality homes for people when they are most in need and also reducing the amount we spend on unsuitable bed and breakfast accommodation.

“It will also reduce the need to place households out of the area.”

Elsewhere, Adur District Council is pushing on with plans to provide a further 15 units on Cecil Norris House in Ravens Road, Shoreham.

Southwick-based Pilbeam Construction is overseeing the redevelopment scheme which will see a new high-quality environmentally-friendly contemporary block replace the former vacant building, which was demolished last year.

Work on creating dozens of other homes is also progressing through the Hidden Homes programme, as the council looks to create properties on under-utilised pockets of land.

All will be made available for individuals and families on Adur’s housing waiting list, the spokesman said.

Councillor Carson Albury, Adur District Council’s Executive Member for Customer Services, which includes housing, said: “We know that good-quality housing for those on our waiting list is in short supply which is why we are working so hard to create homes for those in need.”

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