Tackling homelessness challenges
A former care home will be reinvented as temporary accommodation as Blaby District Council seeks to tackle rising homelessness challenges.
A change of use application from the authority for Dallington House on Leicester Road, Enderby, was approved by planning committee members.
The property will retain the existing 13 self-contained independent living units, each with a bed, table and chairs, small kitchenette and bathroom with a shower.
No internal or external changes are proposed. The communal areas will be retained, along with the on-site office.
The units will be used for people on the Council’s housing register and rough sleepers. They will support the Council in reducing its reliance on unsuitable bed and breakfast accommodation by offering more appropriate temporary housing.
The scheme will also enable the delivery of pre-tenancy workshops and support sessions. This will help people develop the skills to successfully manage their own tenancies and so reduce the risk of repeat homelessness.
The planning committee were told: "Not only will the change of use application help to provide high quality self-contained accommodation, with cooking facilities and better privacy for residents, the use of Dallington House for this purpose would allow us to limit both rough sleeping but also the Council’s use of bed and breakfast accommodation as much as possible."
The number of homeless households being supported by the Council has risen by 64% over the past five years.
Most are local individuals or families who can’t afford high private rents or to get on the property ladder.
The Council’s Housing Strategy 2021-26 and Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-2030 both set out providing new and suitable housing as priorities in reducing homelessness and rough sleeping. This also aligns with national policy.
Councillor Lee Breckon, Planning Committee Chairman, said: "Along with many other councils we are seeing increasing levels of homelessness as inflation and the cost of living continue to impact families. One of our priorities for 2026-27 is to provide more temporary accommodation ensuring vulnerable people, particularly children, are protected. As a planning committee we were more than happy to approve this change of use."
Councillor Lee Breckon
Planning Committee Chairman