Bristol City Council has defended proposals to house hundreds of people who are homeless or in temporary accommodation in a former council office block in south Bristol.
Earlier this week, it was revealed the council is planning on giving a permanent home in the former Parkview office complex in Whitchurch to around 70 people who were taken off the streets and given hotel rooms at the start of the coronavirus lockdown.
It was also revealed that, as part of the deal with the developer firm which is currently converting the huge office site, the council will also move around 150 people - individuals and families - who are in temporary accommodation into the Parkview site.
Caridon, the company behind the development, was the subject of a Newsnight investigation last year.
Residents of Terminus House, in Harlow, near London, complained to the journalists about overcrowding and the mix of people, speaking about violence and substance misuse.
BristolLive asked the council what checks it had done into Caridon as well as what would be the minimum size for the units, but got no answer.
Instead, Bristol City Council issued the following statement defending its proposals said: “We are committed to making sure that people do not return to the streets and securing suitable, affordable move-on accommodation is one of our key priorities.
“Imperial Apartments is an opportunity to supply a significant amount of well-managed accommodation to reduce the level of homelessness and rough sleeping in Bristol.
“The development will provide settled private rented homes, not temporary accommodation, with a balance of nominations from hotels, the housing list, local people and market lets, in order to create a mixed community."
The council will publish its plans in papers for the next cabinet meeting at the beginning of September, but the move is seen as a step forward in alleviating the worsening housing crisis hitting Bristol.
There had been fears those people who were provided hotel rooms at the height of the coronavirus pandemic would end up returning to the streets, but council housing chiefs have pledged to try to make sure that doesn’t happen.
The statement continued: "Working alongside Caridon, we are determined to make this development a success and thriving community in which to live.
“We are investing resources to make the scheme a success, including on-site support staff, new communal facilities and targeted support to help maintain tenancies.
"All nominated households will receive help from Welfare Rights and Money Advice Service (WRAMAS) staff to access benefits and money advice.
“The properties are only suitable for those who are able to live independently in a private rented tenancy with minimal or no support, and our nominations policy will make sure that the right people are selected for the right apartments, to help remove potential for overcrowding."
The council said the properties had been finished to a good standard with private fitted kitchens, bathrooms, carpets and white goods.
“The Imperial Apartments deal is part of a wider move-on accommodation programme that includes new social housing, individual PRS landlords, leasing deals and refurbishments," the statement added.
"Through all of these avenues, we are hoping to make sure that we are able to house everyone currently staying in hotels as part of our Covid-19 response.”
The council said it was unable to say when people would start moving in as a decision had not been made on the proposals yet.
The project still needs approval from Bristol City Council’s cabinet, which meets on September 1.
Local residents in and around Hengrove, Hartcliffe and Whitchurch will soon receive a letter informing them of the plan, and also inviting people to put their names down to be considered for a place there.
