Homeless shelter plans for former police base

The Chace Avenue site will provide 34 bedrooms to support homeless people, according to council documents

A former police building is set to be turned into a homeless shelter, according to plans submitted by Coventry City Council.

The authority wants to use the old police base on Chace Avenue, which has been empty since 2017, to provide temporary accommodation.

The 1990s building currently has about 36 bedrooms, according to the plans, as well as shared kitchens and a garden.

The plans would see the council provide 34 bedrooms, as well as communal areas, a staff room, a storage area, bin storage, bike storage, and a garden.

A gate is proposed to provide access to the rear garden, along with secure fencing.

In February, the council said West Midlands Police had accepted its offer to buy the building.

The site is located in a predominantly residential area, the authority said, with a regular bus service to Coventry city centre.

The city council said it had carried out community engagement, including a drop-in session in February to discuss the proposals with local people, and had delivered leaflets to nearby homes.

While there was some support for the scheme and hopes it would alleviate pressure on temporary accommodation, responses to the planning application also showed there were concerns.

Among the opposition letters were suggestions there could increased drug and alcohol use on the streets.

Others claimed it was not the right location, with two primary schools in the area.

The council said it would staff the site 24 hours a day to satisfy public safety concerns.