Newark Seven Hills temporary housing approved for redevelopment

An upgraded temporary housing facility for the homeless in Newark has been approved.

Permission was granted by Newark and Sherwood District Council planning committee for Seven Hills, on Quibell’s Lane.

The previous housing on the site was demolished because it was considered unfit for purpose.

The new facilities were described at the meeting to be better designed to allow flexible use of the units.

Twenty temporary accommodation units were approved in two blocks, with a central community centre building.

Block one is two flexible accommodation facilities in a single-storey element, plus ten single-bedroom flats over two-storeys.

These will have internal doors, giving the option of two-bedroom accommodation if both floors are required for one family.

Block two is a single-storey building of eight family spaces with one to three bedrooms.

A single-storey community centre will include an office, meeting room, community room, laundry and kitchen, and storage.

Outside, there will be a play area, carparking including electric charging points, and a bike shelter.

Committee member Rhona Holloway said: “I welcome this coming before committee. It’s been waiting for it for quite some time.

“I’m really pleased to see the solar panels and charging points.”

Laurence Goff said: "I welcome the five biking areas and the play area which is a comfort to the young people that will be using it.

"I look forward to in the future there being more premises for people that are suffering at the moment.”