Arc, a homelessness charity formerly known as Taunton Action for the Homeless, has announced plans to sell a former B&B in Bridgwater intended to be converted into a homeless accommodation facility. The decision comes after a thorough review revealed the building could not offer “a safe and supportive environment” for its residents.
In March 2022, Arc applied to transform Tower House B&B at 27 Wembdon Road into an eight-bedroom house of multiple occupation (HMO). The charity secured planning permission from Sedgemoor District Council’s development committee in September 2022. Following this, Arc requested a variation to reduce staff presence during evenings and weekends.
Concerns about public safety led Somerset Council’s north planning committee to defer the decision on this amendment in June. The final ruling was initially scheduled for the August 12 meeting in Bridgwater.
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However, Arc has now withdrawn the applications and announced its intent to sell the property. Instead, the charity plans to find alternative accommodation solutions in the near future.
Originally, the approved plan required staff to be onsite 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Arc proposed modifications to have trained housing management or support workers present only during weekday hours, compensating for decreased evening and weekend staffing by monitoring through live-streamed CCTV to a control center, and deploying security staff as needed. This change reflected the expectation that some occupants would have lower support needs than initially anticipated.
A spokesperson from Arc stated that after conducting a full review of both the building and its location, they concluded Tower House was no longer the best fit to meet Bridgwater’s homelessness support needs. The charity affirmed its commitment to collaborating with the local community to secure safe, accessible housing options for those facing homelessness, while working to reduce stigma and highlight the positive impact of their well-designed accommodation and support services.