Bristol-based property developer Cubex, LandAid and local charity Developing Health and Independent (DHI) have teamed up to deliver vital housing that will transform the lives of young homeless people in Bristol.
East Street Mews will create 11 contemporary apartments by converting an empty property in Bedminster to provide much-needed affordable housing in the city for this vulnerable group of people.
When complete, the apartments will be offered at rental levels set according to the amount young homeless people can afford to pay. The restored property will also include space on the ground floor for local businesses.
The project team is currently working on plans and designs for converting the property, which has been empty for many years and needs significant restoration. It aims to submit a planning application in the next few weeks, start work on conversion in late summer and welcome the first residents in 2019.
Willmott Dixon will lead the construction procurement and management aspects of the project.
All the companies that have pledged to help are donating their time and skills free of charge, and organisations that have committed support so far include Palmer Capital, the Bush Consultancy, GVA, JLL, Hydrock, Creation Design, Spirit Public Relations, Carbon Consult, TFT and Cook Brown Building Control.
Gavin Bridge, director of developer Cubex, said: “Living and working in Bristol, we are only too well aware of growing homelessness in the city and wanted to do something about it.
“It seemed to us that the best way to contribute would be to use our own expertise, along with the skills of many of the companies we’ve worked with, to put the East Street Mews project together.”
Young people in the UK are three times more likely to experience homelessness than the rest of the population and are disproportionally impacted by job insecurity and poverty. A recent study found that 1 in 13 people aged between 16 and 25 in the UK have experienced some form of homelessness within the past five years.
David Walton, housing director of DHI said: “This project is enabling us to address the huge need for high-quality and truly affordable homes for young people in Bristol.
“There is a great need for stepping stone or ‘move on’ accommodation for young people living in hostels or at risk of homelessness, so this is an important project to prevent youth homelessness and help young people turn their lives around.”
Alice Lamb, director of fundraising and partnerships from LandAid, said: “East Street Mews is an excellent example of how by bringing together the property industry, local authorities and front-line charities, we can make a huge impact to the lives of those who need it most.
“LandAid hopes that East Street Mews will be the first of many a similar project, not just in the South West but across the UK.”
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