Green light for plans to convert student halls into homeless accommodation in Portsmouth

City councillors unanimously approved planning permission to transform The Registry block, in St Michael's Road, and the Elm Grove Library into temporary accommodation for rough sleepers and those at risk of homelessness during a meeting this week.

Proposals are part of a wider three-year plan to prevent homelessness in Portsmouth and, as reported, the council is set to spend £9.4m buying and converting the buildings – along with Kingsway House which is also in Elm Grove.

Community safety boss at the council, Councillor Lee Hunt, spoke in favour of the plans. 'CCTV will be installed to safeguard residents there,' he said.

'By doing this we help get them off the street, we reduce crime, we reduce the exploitation of these people across all sorts of fields from modern day slavery to drugs, and we improve their lives.'

The use of the sites will build on work to house rough sleepers during the pandemic that was supported by government funding and resulted in around 200 people being placed in hotels.

Since then some of those people were found new homes in private rented accommodation and up to 100 were housed temporarily in The Registry and Elm Grove Library.

SEE ALSO: Council awarded grant of £4.6m to house homeless people

Conservative group leader, Cllr Donna Jones, said: 'I think it is a sensible proposal for a change of use considering the market for student accommodation in Portsmouth. It has gone from being in great demand to absolutely falling off a cliff with many accommodations sitting empty.’

Fellow Tory, Cllr Terry Norton added: 'I remember the days of The Registry being one of the best pubs in the city coming out on the steps to the road it's a dangerous road.

'Is there a safety barrier, because cars do fly around there?

'I think it's something to consider in the future.'

It is planned the council will use £2.1m from a grant awarded by government last year and a further £7.3m from borrowing to pay for and refurbish the three buildings.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

You can subscribe here for unlimited access to Portsmouth news online - as well as fewer adverts, access to our digital edition and mobile app.

Our trial offer starts at just £2 a month for the first two months.