Empty council office block in Newbury converted
It's been turned into apartments to help people in urgent need of accommodation
An empty office block in Newbury has been transformed into apartments for families in housing need - including Afghan and Ukrainian nationals who have fled conflict in their home countries.
The work has been undertaken as part of a wider project by West Berkshire Council to provide 27 homes across the district for families who have arrived through national resettlement schemes.
West Point House was empty and surplus to requirements by the Council and has now been converted into five separate units – a one-bed apartment and four three-bed apartments.
The apartments will also be used to provide homes for some local families in need of housing and who are currently being supported by West Berkshire Council.
The building work is set to be completed within the next week and the apartments will then be furnished with the new tenants expected to move in later this month.
Councillor Denise Gaines, Executive Member for Housing, said:
“It’s been wonderful to watch these empty offices transform into five new apartments for families in need of a place to call home. It will give them a sense of belonging and a place of their own as they continue to rebuild their lives in West Berkshire. Having visited recently the apartments look great and I hope the new tenants will be very happy there.”
Once the resettlement schemes have concluded and tenants have moved into permanent accommodation, these apartments will become part of West Berkshire Council’s temporary housing supply.
The overarching project to deliver all 27 homes is due to be completed in the next few weeks.
The housing project is being part-funded by central Government through its Local Authority Housing Fund. It was set up to help councils manage the impact on its housing services when supporting displaced families arriving in the UK. The overall cost of the project to deliver the 27 homes (and which includes the costs of redeveloping West Point House) is £9m, with West Berkshire Council allocated a £3.6m contribution from national funding.