A DERELICT former chippy and café in the centre of Bangor is to be demolished and redeveloped into flats to help tackle homelessness.
Cyngor Gwynedd has granted permission with conditions to knock down the once popular Dean Street Chippy and Cafe.
The development, submitted by housing association Adra, will see the new homes being targeted towards people in temporary accommodation, those who are homeless or people being resettled.
It is part of housing efforts to help meet an increase in homelessness due to the “worsening cost of living crisis and wider resettlement schemes,” the plans say.
The council has agreed to the demolition of the existing derelict buildings and to erect a replacement to include four apartments with car parking, landscaping and associated works.
The proposal involves constructing four one-bedroom flats along with external recreational areas, bin store and associated car parking spaces.
A report by Adra said: “The proposed development aims to provide four one-bedroom flats conveniently located in the centre of Bangor.
“Each flat is designed to meet Welsh Development Quality Requirements and Lifetime homes standard.
“This will ensure the layout of each flat is practical and flexible, so that it will meet the needs of various tenants, or be easily adapted if the existing tenant’s mobility needs change.”
To provide the development, Adra is dependent on receiving transitional accommodation capital funding (TACP) from the Welsh Government.
“To qualify for social rented units funded through TACP, applicants will need to be registered as living in temporary accommodation, homeless or resettling,” it says.
The programme was established in response to growing pressures on temporary accommodation “where the numbers of people homeless are increasing due to the worsening cost of living crisis, as well as wider resettlement schemes,” the plans say.
“TACP provides grant funding to local authorities and registered social landlords (RSLs) to bring forward good quality longer term accommodation at pace to support everyone in housing need (those in temporary accommodation and initial accommodation for resettlement).
“Should funding not be available, Adra will seek Social Housing Grant and deliver the homes in accordance with Gwynedd Housing Allocation Policy.”
The houses will charge social rents, which are lower-cost rented homes which are provided by a registered social landlord.
Social housing is also allocated based on need. Cyngor Gwynedd uses a system which gives points to reflect an applicant’s circumstances and needs.
