Empty council offices 'could solve rough sleeping' in Salford

Calls have been made for empty council offices in Salford to be used to help people who are homeless

Empty council offices should be used to help people who are homeless or rough sleeping in Salford, a councillor has said.

The leader of Salford Conservatives Robin Garrido said offices in Salford Civic Centre in Swinton were often left empty as staff worked from home.

He said the newer part of the site could be offered to those in need or even be turned into homes.

But the council's deputy leader said the option had already been considered.

Labour Councillor John Merry, who is also lead member for adult services, health and wellbeing said it was deemed not a "viable option" due to the need for planning consent and extensive work to make it suitable for residential use.

Mr Garrido said: "That building could be used to solve the problem of homelessness and rough sleeping.

"We think we could have put some people in there but we were told it wasn't practical."

New vision

He also said in the longer term the building, which first opened in 1938 and later extended, could be knocked down and several houses built, including shared ownership properties.

The local authority is working up plans for the future of Swinton, including a plan to "repurpose the Civic Centre" and "rethinking" the shopping centre on the other side of Chorley Road, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

In a 2022 survey, residents called for "a plan to tackle empty buildings and shops".

An emergency homeless shelter opened last December in an old school building in the town.

Around the same time, tents were put up outside the council offices to show how bad the problem of homelessness had become in the area.

Mr Merry said the retail part of the town centre was privately-owned and "we continue to talk with them and all key stake holders about the realising the vision" for Swinton.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham's office was contacted for comment.