Temporary accommodation building works completed

Works to transform a temporary accommodation block into housing suitable for families, has been completed.

Rigby Lodge, in Aldborough Spur, was previously rented by the council and it contained 10 one bed flats, which primarily housed single occupiers.

The council bought the block in May 2025 and submitted plans to transform it into larger units for family accommodation.

Planning was approved, and works began in November, to change the block to one two-bedroom house, and four three-bedroom flats. Two of the flats are adapted for wheelchair access.

Phase one involved building two rear two-storey extensions, which increased the bedroom sizes of the flats.

The second phase in the modernisation of the block has involved installing new windows and doors, new Air Source heat pumps to provide central heating to each property, new kitchens and bathrooms, and new solar panels to each property.

Works were completed last month (June), with the first resident already moved in.

Councillor Iftakhar Ahmed, lead member for housing, homelessness and communities said: “The completion of these works marks an important milestone in our plans to provide more temporary accommodation ourselves, and to reduce spend on sourcing it elsewhere.

“It shows that where we must put homeless households in temporary accommodation, we can develop a supply that is of a good standard, well managed, and affordable.

“These properties will provide a settled home, and they have energy efficiency measures which will help reduce the bills for residents staying there.”

The external area has also been improved, with a revised car park, electrical charge points, new fencing, and pathways.