THERE are plans to turn a former Merthyr Tydfil hotel into accommodation for the homeless.
The council has partnered with Merthyr Valleys Homes on plans for 19 apartments of temporary supported living accommodation at the former Tregenna Hotel in Park Terrace.
A planning statement submitted with the application said the proposed development will provide accommodation for individuals experiencing homelessness and will deliver a range of services, support and training.
It said that there is currently a 23-bed hotel and visitor car park on the site.
The statement said that following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, the Welsh Government introduced a “no-one left out” approach to ensure that accommodation is provided to all those in need of it.
It said that this approach has led to many local authorities, including Merthyr Tydfil Council, to become heavily reliant on the use of local B&Bs and guesthouses to provide temporary accommodation.
The Tregenna Hotel was initially used by the council in November 2020 when all other B&B accommodation in the area reached full capacity.
The council booked the Tregenna Hotel for a year to house Merthyr Tydfil’s most vulnerable residents for emergency accommodation, and all rooms were fully occupied during this time.
Since then, they have continued to book all rooms on a three-month block booking basis, and the hotel has not returned its originally approved use since this time, the statement said.
It also said that, as of December 6, 2023, 118 people live in temporary accommodation, with 82 living in unsuitable B&B placements with 39% requiring high or intensive support.
It said: “This, coupled with broader socio-economic challenges such as the cost-of-living crisis, fuel poverty, and refugee programs has made it increasingly difficult for the local authority to find suitable accommodation for those most in need.
“As such, Merthyr Tydfil CBC have partnered with Merthyr Valleys Homes to convert the Tregenna Hotel into suitable supported accommodation for individuals experiencing homelessness.”
It would feature services on an emergency basis, for those with support needs and not yet able to sustain a tenancy, flexible support, intermediate accommodation before moving into long term accommodation and training opportunities to gain independent skills.
The scheme will provide housing related support with 19 units of accommodation for homeless people with high or intensive support needs.
The planning statement said: “In conclusion, our proposed supported accommodation scheme will not only address the immediate housing needs of individuals in crisis but also prioritises their long-term success by providing targeted support, fostering independence, and facilitating a smooth transition to sustained accommodation.”
The newly refurbished building would include a communal/training kitchen, a communal dining area, a communal lounge and activity room, improved rooms, laundry facilities and 24/7 on-site support.
The parking area would provide eight spaces to accommodate staff which would include one manager, seven scheme support officers, one accommodation coordinator and four project workers.
The planning statement said that any one time, a maximum of five staff will be on site with one site manager, one scheme support officer, one accommodation coordinator and two project workers.
