Council Scraps Plan For Homeless Accommodation Amid Spiralling Costs

A plan to build temporary accommodation for the homeless in Market Harborough town centre has been scrapped.

Harborough District Council says the project is no longer financially viable, after the cost more than doubled to £1,5m.

Nine apartments would have been created within a new three-storey building on Roman Way, after the council bought a derelict house on the site which was due to be demolished.

The authority is now proposing to buy properties across the district to be used to accommodate homeless people on a temporary basis and put the house up for sale.

Clive Mason is the council’s Director of Resources:

The Council have bought an old house on Roman Way which would be demolished to make way for the new facility.
Pic: Andy Carpenter

Cllr Phil Knowles, Leader of Harborough District Council, said: “The original plan was to build temporary accommodation for homeless people in Roman Way, Market Harborough.

“However, the administration sought advice of officers and decided that due to rising construction costs the project was no longer viable.

“The initial feasibility costs were £681,000 in early 2021 which increased to an estimated £1.5million in May 2023.

“We are currently re-evaluating our temporary accommodation options and our focus is shifting to lower density housing in locations across the district.”

How the building would have looked Pic: BRP Architects