Ashford Borough Council buys 14 newly-built studio apartments in town centre to help tackle homelessness

Ashford Borough Council has acquired the freehold interests of 13-14 Elwick Road in the town centre for an undisclosed sum. The building consists of 14 newly-built studio apartments and the long leasehold interest of the ground floor commercial space.

The council acquired the adjoining property – Trafalgar House at the bottom of Bank Street – in May 2023 and this latest deal will enable the authority to use both buildings to bring forward much needed cost-effective temporary accommodation (TA). 13-14 Elwick Road shares common parts with Trafalgar House.

Prior to our acquisition last year, Trafalgar House had been used by Ashford Borough Council, and other local authorities in Kent, as temporary accommodation.
 
Trafalgar House comprises 30 x 1-bed flats and 3 x studio flats. It was a ‘permitted development rights’ development and is managed currently by a tenant, who have a full repairs lease and will manage the building until December 2026. There are also six shops on the ground floor.

The council says that the ability to place 33 individuals / households in Trafalgar House, in addition to the 14 apartments at 13-14 Elwick Road plus Christchurch House (eight units), Christchurch Lodge (eight units) and, from September 2024 Fortis House at Henwood (23 units), will help significantly lower the spend on costly bed and breakfast accommodation in the General Fund.