A community centre is planning to provide accommodation for those in danger of homelessness in the heart of Ryde.
In plans submitted to the Isle of Wight Council, Aspire Ryde has unveiled proposals to turn the floors above its community hub on the High Street into a five-bed house of multiple occupation (HMO).
Rented housing scheme
Permission had been granted in July 2020 to convert the floors above its hub into flats but now the community group want to take the accommodation a step further.
In planning documents, Aspire says it wants to convert the floors into a rented housing scheme to enable people to be appropriately housed, prior to securing long term accommodation.
Protecting those at risk of homelessness
The rooms would be available to people who are likely to be living in substandard or insecure accommodation elsewhere — with the potential of being homeless — but fall low in priority on the housing register.
The development, Aspire says, is a contribution to both the high street regeneration and an improvement to the lives of the individuals it may help.
Need identified
Paul Stack, a chartered planner on behalf of Aspire, says there is an identified need for the proposed low-cost rented accommodation.
He said the proposal would make an important and vital contribution to the council’s strategies aimed at tackling Islander’s housing needs, rough sleeping and homelessness.
All bedrooms across the two floors would have an ensuite and a window, with communal kitchen and living facilities.
RTC suggests more info provided
Ryde Town Council has commented on the application, raising no objection with it, but has asked that details about how the HMO is managed be made available.
The details, it says, will be able to provide residents with the assurance that there would be no increase in anti-social behaviour.
View the plans
To view the plans, 22/00496/FUL, you can visit the council’s planning register.
The public consultation runs until 26th April.
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
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