Student flats will 'help homeless families'

The plans were discussed at a meeting at Colchester Town Hall on Wednesday

A council is moving forward with plans to move homeless residents out of bed-and-breakfasts and into empty student accommodation.

Colchester City Council hopes the move will help some of the 364 households who are currently living in temporary accommodation.

It will lease privately-owned student flats in the city, and not any owned by the University of Essex.

Council leader David King said the scheme would "help the social life and continuity of the families" by avoiding them having to move further afield.

Colchester City Council leader David King supported the plans to lease privately-owned student accommodation

Liberal Democrat councillor Mr King pledged to review the proposed accommodation "with scrupulous detail" to make sure it was appropriate.

"It's sad to know we have hundreds in that position," he said at a meeting on Wednesday.

'Reassured'

After some initial scepticism, the plans also gained the backing of Labour councillor Kayleigh Rippingale.

Ms Rippingale said she had visited the proposed accommodation and was "surprised at the quality".

"I was also surprised at the commitment of the on-site team to provide additional support for our residents, given that the site manager herself had been in temporary accommodation throughout her life," she told cabinet members.

"It reassured me that there were people there who were compassionate and kind and could support our residents."

The properties include single rooms with shared kitchens, living areas and bathrooms, and self-contained studio flats.

The council is currently spending between £38 and £130 a night on temporary accommodation for single people, and about £160 a night per room for families.