Northampton's emergency night shelter needs planning permission to carry on for two more years

The emergency night shelter has offered accommodation for up to 20 men who are rough sleeping each night for the last three years.

But that stay needs to be extended as temporary planning permission will soon expire, and a two-year extension is set to be agreed by Northampton Borough Council’s planning committee next Tuesday (February 18).

Open from 9pm until 9am, the emergency night shelter is based at the former British Rail Sports and Social Club on St Andrew’s Road and operated by two full-time members of staff who are assisted by a team of volunteers.

The cost of operating the centre is funded by the borough council, and is aimed at identifying rough sleepers and encouraging them onto health and wellbeing programmes and, eventually, a permanent home.

About 28 people were sleeping rough in Northampton in November 2019, with a further 16 identified as living in group encampments in various locations. Visitors to the shelter are offered a floor space, washroom facilities and light refreshments in the morning.

A report to be read by members of the planning committee next week states: “It was initially envisaged that the facility will operate for up to two years, by which time a more permanent solution can be found or those who have been rough sleeping will be included on programmes that provide accommodation and welfare facilities.

“Unfortunately, a suitable premise has not been identified and the use has continued. It is still anticipated that an alternative long-term solution will be found, but as a property has not

been identified, it is anticipated that a further two years period would be required to maintain the current facility.”

Councillors will hear that since it opened in February 2017, the night shelter has provided 358 homeless men with somewhere to stay, with two thirds of these having moved on into permanent accommodation.