Chester’s Sealand Road homeless shelter gets the green light – Cheshire Live

Planning chiefs have approved proposals to permanently convert a former day centre into homeless accommodation.

The Mulberry Centre off Sealand Road in Chester has been used temporarily to house rough sleepers during the pandemic as part of the governments everyone in policy.

But that policy expired at the end of 2021 and the council has now taken the decision to continue operating the facility, which features 27 bedrooms and provides employment for 10 staff.

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At a meeting of the councils planning committee on Tuesday, Alison Amesbury, head of housing at Cheshire West and Chester council, said there had been no objections to the proposals.

She told members: Its provided a safe environment with staff on site 24 hours a day.

The staff are really proud of the way the residents have taken ownership of the outside space, creating a growing area for herbs and tomatoes.

She added: I think its tribute to the management by ForFutures (homeless service) that theres been no complaints or objections to this planning application.

The former day centre had provided non-residential community support and social care services to adults with complex special needs until its closure.

The original planning application said there had been concerns from local residents when it was converted into temporary accommodation in 2020, but said this was not helped by the Covid pandemic limiting the consultation phase by preventing in-person meetings.

Committee member Cllr Charles Fifield, said: As a council we do have a statutory duty in relation to helping some of the most vulnerable in our community and I do recall the issue of this sort of use cropping up before.

Im really pleased that weve been able to get on top of it and theres been no objections to this, because I do recall that when its cropped up before its been quite controversial.

He added: I hope when we look back at the pandemic we can see this as a silver lining because I think this is a really good thing.

The plans were approved unanimously.

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Chester's Sealand Road homeless shelter gets the green light - Cheshire Live