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    08

    Mar 2024

    Last Updated: 07/03/2024

    Council approves £400,000 contract to convert Harrogate hostel into flats

    by Flora Grafton

    | 08 Mar, 2024
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    cavendishhouse-3

    North Yorkshire Council looks set to pay contractors about £400,000 to convert a former Harrogate homeless hostel into six shared ownership flats.

    Cavendish House, on Robert Street, was used as temporary accommodation for homeless people.

    The council said the site, which has been empty since November 2021, was “no longer fit for purpose” and "does not meet the needs of the client group”.

    Plans were approved to convert the site into social housing last September.

    The authority has now paved the way to appoint contractors for the Robert Street development, which it said will deliver "much-needed apartments for affordable shared ownership".

    The council now provides temporary accommodation for homeless people at Fern House on Spa Lane in Starbeck.

    It said in a decision notice announcing the news:

    “This site is technically difficult due to it being a conversion.
    “Whilst normally the internal development team would undertake such works, they have requested that on this occasion that the works are completed externally.
    “This will enable us to procure a specialist conversion company to undertake the development works.”


    The £400,000 tender will include facilitating works, including security, fencing and demolition, as well structural works, internal fittings and any necessary approvals or building regulations.




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    The council last year applied to Homes England to help fund several social housing schemes across the Harrogate district, including the Robert Street conversion.

    It said in the decision notice the work is expected to take around one year, but the contract could be extended if the building process takes longer than anticipated.