Guildford Borough Council unanimously approved the proposal for 1, 3 and 5 York Road, Guildford, to refurbish the existing homeless shelter at Nos. 3 and 5 and change the use of No. 1 from residential flats to a single homeless accommodation centre, with an ancillary healthcare office and facility space, and extensions to the communal areas.
The scheme also includes associated works to improve the building and its use.
Although the development would result in the loss of three C3 residential units, officers noted that Policy H1 of the Local Plan normally resists the net loss of housing. The Council also accepted that it does not currently have a five-year housing land supply, meaning any housing loss weighs against the proposal.
However, the units at No. 1 had reportedly been vacant for some time and needed renovation to become habitable, so the proposal would bring them back into use in a better condition.
In the planning balance, the Council found that the harm from losing a limited amount of C3 housing was outweighed by the strong public benefit of providing much-needed temporary accommodation for people at risk of rough sleeping. The accommodation would serve households in urgent need, offer a safe short-term home, and support onward housing solutions.
Its sustainable central location, proximity to services and facilities, and integration with the adjoining homeless accommodation further strengthened the case.
Overall, the redevelopment was judged to be a justified and beneficial response to local housing need, so approval was granted.
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