04 April 2023 , 08:10
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A council has secured planning permission to build a series of stunning one-bedroom 'pods' for homeless people.
Cornwall Council's plans to place 18 modular units at a site near Penzance were approved yesterday.
The new homes at a former highways depot in Long Rock will provide short and medium term supported accommodation for former rough sleepers.
There will also be a management building, including facilities for general staff and security.
The local authority has previously been using its own land for single units but is expanding the scheme due to the sharp rise in those in need.
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The council is expanding its scheme to cope with the growing number of rough sleepers (Getty Images)The council said using the units would be more efficient than paying for bed and breakfast or budget hotels to house people, reports CornwallLive.
The units are fully equipped and were also seen as a way of ensuring people remained independent and are able to prepare to move into more permanent homes.
The council already had sites in Truro, Penzance, Newquay, and Penryn... and is planning more.
There are currently more than 700 households in temporary emergency accommodation which can often have no catering facilities or be located away from where people need to be to access work or training.
The site is near Penzance (Getty Images)The council wants to place more units in locations where there are most people affected.
Cornwall Council’s west sub-area planning committee unanimously approved the proposals for the site in Long Rock.
John Martin, Cornwall councillor for the area, said that initially he was quite concerned about the plans but said he now supported them.
He highlighted comments from Ludgvan Parish Council, which supported the planning application but was concerned about the site being too far from local services.
Cllr Martin said that he shared those concerns but said: “I have since read the details of the report and I am fairly satisfied that there is the provision of a footpath and a new bus stop.”
Councillors heard that the proposed site was on a main bus route which would mean that residents would be able to access local services easily.
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Committee member John Keeling proposed that the application be approved, in line with officers’ recommendations, saying that it would help meet a recognised need for more accommodation.
The application was approved with 10 votes in favour, none against, and no abstentions.