Five new modular homes have opened in Bristol to provide families experiencing or at risk of homelessness with high-quality temporary accommodation.
The two-bedroom homes at Fortfield Road were officially opened on 14 September and are part of Places for People’s Space to Start campaign, which is calling for greater use of modular housing as an alternative to hotels, B&Bs and other temporary accommodation.
More than 134,000 households in England, including 176,000 children, are currently living in temporary accommodation, according to the latest government figures.
Councils across England spend around £2.8 billion a year on temporary accommodation, with costs forecast to approach £4 billion by the end of the decade. Places for People says its experience in Bristol suggests moving a household from emergency hotel or B&B accommodation into a modular home could save councils up to £24,500 a year.
Built by Places for People’s specialist modular developer, Modularwise, the new homes include one fully accessible property designed for wheelchair users. Each provides families with their own front door, bedrooms, living space and fully fitted kitchen.
The homes are largely manufactured off site before being transported and installed at Fortfield Road, allowing construction to take place more quickly and with less disruption on site.
Places for People has managed the Fortfield Road service since 2001. The existing accommodation provides secure housing and wrap-around support for 22 families, who can stay for up to two years while they work towards permanent housing.
The new homes will be managed by Places for People in partnership with Bristol City Council. Residents will also be connected with healthcare, mental health services, education, employment and other support.
Christine Candlish, Director of Living Plus at Places for People, said: ‘Opening these new homes at Fortfield Road is an important step in giving families something that temporary accommodation too often cannot – space, security and a real sense of home.
‘Families need somewhere they can cook, sleep, study and spend time together, not simply a hotel room with little privacy or space for family life. These homes give people the space and stability they need to rebuild their lives, alongside the right support to help them move towards permanent housing.
‘Bristol City Council has shown what can be achieved when councils unlock suitable land and work with partners to deliver innovative housing solutions. We want to see more local authorities explore Modular homes as a faster, more cost-effective alternative to hotels and B&B’s. They offer a practical solution to the temporary accommodation crisis, enabling high quality homes to be delivered quickly and in the places where they are needed most.’
Councillor Barry Parsons, Chair of Homes and Housing Delivery at Bristol City Council, said: ‘Everyone deserves a safe and decent place to call home, but like many cities across the country, Bristol is facing unprecedented housing pressures and rising numbers of households requiring temporary accommodation. While we continue to build new homes and work to prevent homelessness wherever possible, it is equally important that families who do need temporary accommodation have somewhere safe and supportive to stay.’
Images: Modularwise/Places for People
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