Former Wrexham B&B could become homeless shelter permanently

The authority has been using the former Grove House B&B on Chester Road near the city centre as temporary homeless accommodation since January 2021.

In January this year, planning permission was granted for its continued use as homeless accommodation for a further 12 months but this runs out at the end of December.

The council is now seeking to make this permission permanent with the Housing Department making the application so it can continue to provide support at the premises.

Reasons for the application and an explanation of how people become homeless are provided in the supporting documents submitted with the application which state: “You may be legally classed as homeless if you are sleeping on a friend's sofa, staying in a hostel, suffering from overcrowding etc.

Grove House, Wrexham (Image: Google)

“People become homeless for lots of different reasons. There are social causes of homelessness, such as a lack of affordable housing, poverty, unemployment and life events which push people into homelessness.

“For example some are forced into homelessness when they leave care or the army with no home to go to.

“Many women experiencing homelessness have escaped a violent or abusive relationship. Many people become homeless because they can no longer afford the rent.

“And for many, life events like a relationship breaking down, losing a job, mental or physical health problems put people under considerable pressure. Being homeless can, in turn, make many of these problems even harder to resolve.”

The supporting statement gives the background to the use of the 16-bedroom Grove House, which ceased being a B&B in 2019.

Accommodation is only suitable for single individuals, not families and couples.

It adds: “Since January 2021 the facility has been used to provide temporary accommodation to individuals presenting as homeless and after assessment it has been established Wrexham Council has a duty to house.

“The premises has sixteen self-contained units providing en-suite facilities to single residents and there is a communal area with cooking facilities.

“Residents are provided accommodation and breakfast provision as they would if the premises were to remain a B&B.

“Wrexham Council Housing Department applied for change of use from a B&B establishment to accommodation that provides temporary housing alongside the provision of Housing Support staff.

“The aim of the support is to help people who have never had a tenancy or knowledge of how to look after a house and manage household bills, thus to gain this essential knowledge and become tenant ready.

“In October 2021 the Housing Department submitted a planning application for change of use from a bed and breakfast to temporary accommodation provision with supported services.”

Temporary permission was granted but this expires at the end of the year.

The number of individuals classes as homeless in Wrexham has increased year on year, and more than doubled to 2,238 from 2019-20 to 2021-22, and is expected to rise further again.

The council has noted that “factors such as inflation, interest rate rises and energy poverty will undoubtedly cause a greater presentation of homeless cases in the near future”.

Concerns from neighbouring residents about anti-social behaviour and drug use have been flagged up and according to the supporting documents, have been investigated and addressed.

The supporting statement adds: “36 Chester Road has eight internal CCTV cameras and eight external cameras which are in operation and are recording 24/7.

“Any instances of anti-social behaviour or crime that are reported to staff are immediately investigated via camera footage. Police and other partners are contacted as per our protocol.

“Since we have occupied 36 Chester Road from January 1, 2021 to October 1, 2022 North Wales Police have confirmed the service log for the location found no third party calls had been received by North Wales Police.”

Wrexham Council planners will make a decision on the application at a future date.