We came up against a number of challenges on a current project
located in the county of Hertfordshire. Our role is as architects up
to planning and then as EAs, for 74 new temporary
accommodation units located within a conservation area, which is
surrounded by trees and general housing. The project involves the
expansion of an existing facility, which already houses temporary
accommodation, but is no longer fit for purpose.
We have been working on this scheme since late 2016, and local
objections, in particular from residents, have continually delayed
the programme. While supporting the concept, they do not want
this type of facility on their doorstep, so they have raised every
concern possible – from anti-social behaviour to the appearance of
the building and even car parking and traffic, although the
individuals making use of the accommodation don’t tend to have
access to cars.
Following four pre-application meetings and consultations with
neighbours, all manner of surveys – including traffic surveys – were
commissioned to alleviate their concerns. We also had to undergo
verified views to show how the building would look in its
environment in the summer and winter (when the leaves have
fallen), so the public could be reassured they wouldn’t be able to
see the building from their back gardens.
The design itself had to be robust and low-maintenance with
traditional brickwork and render construction – flat roofs and
panel systems were out of the question. We also had to include an
on-site office facility so the property could be managed on a day-
to-day basis.
While this project is still ongoing, it is in complete contrast to
another one we are working on, on the south coast in Kent, where
speed is the number one priority. The scheme involves three sites,
including two brownfield sites of unused garages and one
greenfield site.Working with our client to get this up and running as quickly and
efficiently as possible, we began by looking at how we could adapt
existing modular blocks, but are now providing a bespoke modular
solution with a volumetric system to deliver the units fast. Just
three months in and planning consent is imminent. As with the
Hertfordshire scheme, the finish must be robust, to allow for the
wear and tear that comes with the rapid churn of residents. Again,
we will be using tough materials with the 6 metre x 3 metre units
clad in brick before they are delivered to the site for assembly.
If asked what advice I would give to another architect when
designing for interim accommodation for the homeless, the main
thing would be to remember that we are not trying to achieve
award-winning architecture. We are trying to solve a problem. It is
certainly worth looking at what has been done before to get an idea
of what is achievable. It is also important to understand exactly
what the local authority’s objectives are, so their requirements are
fulfilled. Robustness, speed of delivery and low maintenance are
common needs for interim accommodation.
Local authorities have a duty to provide homeless applicants
with interim accommodation, however, lack of planning guidance
and objections to these schemes hamper the provision of these
much-needed facilities. This coupled with fears among the public
and the stigma surrounding the type of people who may be housed
in these properties, means getting the green light on planning is an
ongoing challenge.
While this problem remains, we at Pellings continue to work as
effectively as possible with our clients to get temporary households
up and running on sites that would otherwise remain dormant. It
might not solve the homelessness crisis, but at least interim
accommodation can provide a temporary respite.Nicolas Maari is senior partner and head of architecture at PellingsCHALLENGES
The Hertfordshire project is surrounding by general housing, and came up against many objections from residents which have delayed the programme
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