Council to sell modular units for homeless

The council bought the units in response to housing pressures during and after the Covid pandemic

Cornwall Council is set to sell nearly half of a modular home system designed to provide accommodation for single homeless people.

The authority said it was looking to sell 37 of its 79 SoloHaus units, adding it would cost about £9m to set them up - a figure which would increase if it had to purchase land.

The council bought the units in 2021, in response to housing pressures during and after the Covid pandemic, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Councillor Peter La Broy, cabinet member for housing, said: "At a time when we are continuing to experience considerable pressures on council budgets, we have a responsibility to our residents to ensure that we're spending our money wisely."

The cost associated with building a new site is almost £244,000 per SoloHaus unit, the council said

The units were designed to provide longer term accommodation as part of the government's "everyone in" initiative during the pandemic.

It meant local authorities had a duty to provide emergency accommodation to anyone sleeping rough.

The units require planning permission and building regulations, as well as heating, drainage and utility connections before they can be occupied.

Cornwall Council said: "For these schemes to be successful we have to build larger-scale developments in urban areas within or close to towns and public transport, where there is also the right support.

"The cost associated with building a new site – including design and construction, utilities and access – is, on average, almost £244,000 per SoloHaus unit.

"This would increase if we had to purchase land. This is not a cost we can sustain."

It said it would be asking for expressions of interest from third parties to take ownership of the units and those expressing interest should "focus on housing-led uses that support affordability, homelessness prevention and/or deliver community or social benefits".

The SoloHaus site in Truro is being decommissioned and new accommodation is being found for the current residents following the submission of a planning application for homes on the former Old County Hall site, said the council.