Around Ealing around_ealing_dec-jan-2018 | Page 13
HOUSING
Below: Interior shots of the shipping container homes
New homes sail in
Shipping containers have been ingeniously
transformed into homes as part of a new block
of temporary housing for people and families
in need of emergency accommodation.
M
eath Court is due
to get its first
residents in early
December.
The development in Hope
Gardens, Acton, consists
of 60 self-contained units
and will provide temporary
homes for up to 288 people.
This is the second such
block constructed in the
borough for Ealing Council
by QED Sustainable Urban
Developments and is almost
double the size of the other one,
Marston Court, which opened in early
2017 with 34 units.
National changes to benefit rules,
alongside steeply rising rents, has
resulted in increasing numbers of
people becoming homeless and
turning to the council for help.
The 60 homes at Meath Court
include 32 with two bedrooms, 20
with one bedroom and also eight
studio homes. Each has its own
kitchenette, shower room, and front
door. There will also be a management
office and laundry unit.
Meath Court was an underused
site and had been identified for
long-term redevelopment after 2024
but, because of the unprecedented
and chronic demand for housing, it
was decided to use it for temporary
accommodation in the interim.
‘A BIG ACHIEVEMENT’
Councillor Jasbir Anand, the council’s
cabinet member for housing, said:
“Having the second temporary
accommodation scheme open in
the same year is a big achievement.
The council is doing all it can to meet
the needs of the residents who are
unfortunately homeless.
“We look forward to welcoming the
new residents in December. The feedback
from Marston Court has been positive
and we’re certain residents moving into
Meath Court will feel the same.”
QED Sustainable Urban
Developments managing director Ross
Gilbert said: “The new development will
bring vacant brownfield land back into
productivity to deliver ready-to-live-in
accommodation for those most in need.”
For more information on how the
council can work with residents
and landlords to prevent homelessness,
go to www.ealing.gov.uk and search
‘homelessness’.
around ealing December 2017
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