The first phase of a housing scheme to help rough sleepers into settled accommodation has been approved. Some 21 ‘move on’ homes have been approved by Salford city council officers under delegated powers. The development will comprise 13 two and three-bedroom and eight one-bedroom homes. A green field site at the end of Tootal Grove in Weaste is one of the three alongside Eccles New Road and Enfield Street, where it is intended such homes will be located. All the sites have been considered favourable because of the close proximity to transport networks and potential job prospects. A design and access statement submitted by architect Buttress points out that homelessness has been increasing in the city since 2012 and that the city council is currently housing 316 people who have slept rough or who have been at ‘significant risk of rough sleeping’. “There is an acute need for more accommodation, particularly for those who have complex needs,” it says. Salford submitted for funding under the Rough Sleepers Accommodation Programme (RSAP) for the delivery of new move on homes in the city. All four bids were successful, attracting a grant of £1.6million with matched funding of £1.1m from the authority’s capital programme. “Tenancies will be allocated and managed by the city council’s Supported Tenancy service,” the document, goes on. “Revenue funding has also been obtained through the grant to deliver the ongoing support.” The Tootal Grove site has historically been open park land and sits alongside the Liverpool-Manchester railway line and is near Weaste Station.
