Somerset Council is set to invest almost £3.4 million in acquiring new properties to provide temporary housing for families facing homelessness across the county.
With more than 12,000 individuals currently on Somerset’s housing register, many families are forced to stay in bed-and-breakfasts while waiting for permanent homes. To tackle this, the council plans to purchase up to 15 properties that will serve as emergency temporary accommodation.
This initiative is funded through the housing revenue account (HRA), which manages social housing and related maintenance. Thanks to a surplus of £3.34 million projected at the close of the 2024/25 financial year, the council’s executive committee approved redirecting these funds to secure additional homes.
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Councillor Federica Smith-Roberts, portfolio holder for communities, culture, and equality, emphasized the importance of this strategic investment. “Our HRA reserves are well above what we need, so reallocating £3.4 million into acquiring new homes will help reduce the costly reliance on temporary accommodation and create stable environments where families can rebuild their lives,” she stated.
Councillor Heather Shearer, portfolio holder for children, families, and education, voiced strong support for the move, highlighting concerns beyond homelessness. “We need to ensure our Local Plan includes support for various ‘follow-on’ housing solutions, especially for vulnerable groups like those recently released from prison or care. Currently, we don’t have enough housing options for these individuals,” she warned.
Questions arose about where these new homes will be located. Councillor Lucy Trimnell, shadow portfolio holder for adults’ services and homelessness, sought clarification on whether the properties would be concentrated in the previously managed areas of Sedgemoor and Somerset West & Taunton.
In response, Councillor Smith-Roberts explained the flexibility of the new unitary council structure, which allows the HRA to fund properties anywhere in Somerset based on need and availability. Early purchases are likely to focus on the west and north of the county, where demand is highest, with Langport already identified as a potential area.
Kirsty Larkin, Somerset’s service director for housing, provided further context on the urgency. “Currently, families spend an average of six to nine months in temporary accommodation, with single individuals often waiting even longer. Expanding our housing stock is critical to reducing these wait times.”
The proposal will undergo further review by the council’s communities scrutiny committee on September 17 in Taunton, before a final decision is made by the full council at their meeting in Bridgwater on September 25.