Council buys flats' freehold to house homeless

Ashford Borough Council has acquired the freehold of 14 studio flats in Elwick Road

Ashford Borough Council has bought the freehold of 14 new-build studio flats to house the district's homeless.

The properties are in Elwick Road, with the council already owning the neighbouring building, Trafalgar House in Bank Street, since May 2023.

The council has also acquired a commercial space on the ground floor of the Elwick Road building.

It said using such properties to provide temporary accommodation to people and families on its housing list would be cheaper than placing them in bed and breakfast hotels.

Trafalgar House can provide temporary accommodation for 33 individuals or households, with 16 units already available at two other buildings.

In September the authority will open a facility in Henwood consisting of 23 pods.