Issue - meetings

This report outlines the options for the replacement of the existing temporary homeless hostel at Ordnance Lane, and recommends the demolition of the existing and the construction of a new modular build hostel and new council housing on the site.

Resolved:  That Cabinet agree to:

(i)     The demolition of the existing Ordnance Lane hostel to be replaced with a new modular build hostel, with the remainder of the site to be used for new council housing.

(ii)    The commencement of the proposed procurement for the replacement of Ordnance Lane Hostel.

Reason:     (i)      To replace existing poor quality temporary homeless accommodation that is no longer fit for purpose with a high quality new build hostel, and much needed new council housing.

                (ii)     To allow a new modular build hostel to be built that will minimise the disruption to the provision of temporary homeless services.

Members considered a report which outlined the options for the replacement of the existing temporary homeless hostel at Ordnance Lane, York.

Officers confirmed that the final part of the Council’s homeless accommodation improvement strategy had been re-provision of this homeless hostel with solutions having been pursued since 2008. Whilst a range of options outlined in detail in the report had been considered, the use of modular off site construction for the re-provision of the current facility provided the best timely solution and value for money.

Consideration was given to the following options:

Option one – demolition of the existing Ordnance Lane hostel to be replaced with a new modular build hostel, with the remainder of the site to be used for new council housing. This could include a proportion of market sale should any new housing development exceed 20 dwellings.

Option two – continue to search for alternative sites on which to build a replacement hostel, with the Ordnance Lane site to be allocated for an alternative use.

Members confirmed the Council’s statutory and moral duty to provide accommodation that was fit for purpose and it was

Resolved:  That Cabinet agree to:

(i)     The demolition of the existing Ordnance Lane hostel to be replaced with a new modular build hostel, with the remainder of the site to be used for new council housing.

(ii)    The commencement of the proposed procurement for the replacement of Ordnance Lane Hostel. ^1.

Reason:     (i)      To replace existing poor quality temporary homeless accommodation that is no longer fit for purpose with a high quality new build hostel, and much needed new council housing.

                (ii)     To allow a new modular build hostel to be built that will minimise the disruption to the provision of temporary homeless services.