Somerset council to spend nearly £3.4m on temporary housing for Somerset families
Somerset council backed plans on Monday (September 8) to purchase up to 15 properties across Somerset and turn them into emergency, temporary accommodation for families
Somerset Council will spend nearly £3.4m in the coming months on new homes to provide temporary accommodation for Somerset families.
More than 12,000 people are currently on the housing register in Somerset, with some families having to be housed in bed-and-breakfast accommodation until more permanent lodgings can be secured.
The council’s housing revenue account (HRA) – which covers the spending on social housing and associated maintenance – currently has a healthy surplus, with an underspend of £3,337,000 being added to the existing reserves at the end of the 2024/25 financial year.
The council’s executive committee backed plans on Monday (September 8) to use this underspend to purchase up to 15 properties across Somerset, turning them into emergency, temporary accommodation for families.
Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, portfolio holder for communities, the HRA, culture, equalities and diversity, told the committee: “Everyone will know how I love to talk so positively around trying either to build more homes or to acquire more homes.
“Our HRA reserves are far higher than we need, so what we’re looking to do is to redirect £3,377,000 into our capital programme so we can acquire some additional properties.
“We will look to use those for temporary accommodation, so we can try and help both the huge bill we spend on temporary accommodation and have provide a strong, stable environment so that families can get back on their feet.”
Councillor Heather Shearer, portfolio holder for children, families and education, welcomed the proposals, stating: “This has got my full support.
“We must build into our Local Plan what we’re going to do about supporting different types of ‘follow-on’ accommodation.
“I worry about people who find themselves homeless, but also those who have come out of prison or come out or care – we don’t have enough housing.”
Councillor Lucy Trimnell, shadow portfolio holder for adults’ services, housing and homelessness, asked where the properties would be located.
Ms Trimnell (who represents the Wincanton and Bruton division): “I’m assuming that these homes with be located within the former Sedgemoor and Somerset West & Taunton area, since they were part of the original HRA – can this be confirmed?”
Ms Smith-Roberts (who represents Taunton East) replied: “One of the beauties of being a unitary council is that the HRA is no longer confined to these areas.
“Back in February, we voted in principle to purchase some homes outside of this area – I believe they are in the Langport area.
“When it comes to this decision, these homes can be wherever the pressure is in Somerset – though you need the houses ready and available to purchase, and the developer wanting to sell them.”
Kirsty Larkin, the council’s service director for housing, added: “While it’s fantastic that we can purchase across the county, we have got the highest demand in the west and north, so it is likely to start there, dependent upon supply.
“The average amount of time for families living in temporary accommodation at the moment is six to nine months; it tends to be longer for single people.”
The proposed spending will be discussed further by the council’s communities scrutiny committee in Taunton on September 17, before a final decision will be taken by the full council in Bridgwater on September 25.