Clacton buildings converted into social housing

Cody said he became homeless when he left care at 18

Three eyesore properties in Essex have been turned into 34 new flats for people experiencing homelessness.

Extensive renovation works began in October 2022 to transform the buildings in Edith Road, Clacton-on-Sea.

The idea came from entrepreneur Richard Priest, 51, who worked with the non-profit organisation, One CIC, which supports homeless people.

Cody, 18, has been living in the accommodation and said without it he "would not have had a future".

Mr Priest said the homes were built for people who have found themselves in a "difficult position".

Cody was living with foster parents, but said he became homeless when care funding ceased after turning 18.

He did not feel safe living at a guest house and after five months he was connected with One CIC.

"If I was homeless I would not have had a future, because without this place I still would have been on the streets."

Cody is a fully-qualified chef and said he has started looking for a job.

'Very dilapidated'

Richard Priest said the accommodation was for people who were in a "difficult position"

Three and a half years ago the buildings were "very dilapidated" and Mr Priest said they "weren't really in any good state for humans to live in".

He negotiated with the landlords to purchase all three properties and partnered with Tendring District Council, which supported the idea to change them into social housing.

His vision was to turn the properties into self-contained flats for homeless people or people at risk of homelessness.

Mark Lovell says "if you give someone good accommodation it will change their life"

He said the properties had potential and added: "I really thought this could be used for social housing and that's when I made my proposition to the council and it was very supportive."

He added: "It can be very hard for them to find somewhere to live, so this is specifically for people, who are probably local and have found themselves in a difficult position."

"There is an opportunity to use dilapidated buildings in this country and repurpose them and get good charities all over the UK to run them."

Mark Lovell, the managing director from One CIC, said: "When we started One CIC, there was a lot of talk around when you house homeless people that they would trash or vandalise the properties."

"But our experience is very different."

He added: "Our experience is that if you give someone good accommodation it will change their life."

Andy Baker, an independent Tendring District councillor and cabinet member for housing and planning, said: "This work from One CIC is a brilliant example of best practice. It has transformed an eyesore building to provide much-needed housing, which is really high quality."