A new development providing high-quality, short-term accommodation for 20 people affected by homelessness has been completed in Kidderminster.
The new residential block, called Mill Pond House, means Wyre Forest District Council can reduce the number of people affected by homelessness put in emergency bed and breakfasts and hotels and instead provide purpose-built accommodation and professional support to help people get back on their feet.
The new facility will provide short-term accommodation for people while the council helps them to find a permanent home and builds on success the council has had helping people affected by homelessness at a facility in New Street.
Mill Pond House, which includes rooftop solar panels so it can be powered by renewable energy, has been delivered on time and on budget by the team led by development management consultancy Make NW and delivery partner Stepnell Construction on behalf of Wyre Forest District Council.
The council believes the highly energy-efficient new development, built on an underused car park at Castle Road, will help even more people living independently in the coming years.
In 2022, the council appointed public sector property experts, led by Patrick Hickey at Make NW, to investigate the feasibility of the scheme located in Castle Road, Kidderminster town centre and to handle the planning processes.
Make NW worked with the contractors and architects to make sure the building is as carbon neutral as possible with residents often able to meet a significant proportion of their electricity requirements with solar energy.
Construction work to build the 20 new en-suite apartments, which includes seven double bedroom flats, seven single bedrooms flats and six flats for disabled people, began in February 2024.
