Block to be used for the homeless

COUNCIL BUYS ST ANDREWS CROSS EDIFICE

- WILLIAM TELFORD

A MASSIVE block of student flats has been bought by Plymouth City Council for £5m and will be turned into flats to temporarily house homeless families. The authority has completed the purchase of the Royal Building on St Andrews Cross, in the city centre.

The building, which until recently was a student accommodation block, will be converted into flats. Although it currently contains a number of self-contained student apartments, each with common living areas, the idea is to convert it into 30 one-, two- and three-bedrooms flats suitable for families who are in need of a place to live in the short term.

In addition, an office space for the council’s housing team will be created. A planning application for change of use will be submitted early next year.