Homeless Shelters to Be Renovated and Expanded

Published on: 20 Aug, 2026
Updated on: 20 Aug, 2026

Two houses in York Road, used as homeless shelters, are to be renovated and are further one converted for similar use.

By James Moules

local democracy reporter

Guildford Borough Council is poised to wave through plans to renovate a homeless shelter – and expand it by converting a neighbouring house into additional temporary accommodation.

The plans, which are due to be brought before the council’s planning committee next week, affect three buildings along York Road – two of which are already in use as accommodation for homeless people.

A third adjacent house, which currently hosts three one-bedroom flats, would be converted to set up more rooms and create a broader single homeless accommodation centre.

Guildford Borough Council submitted the application itself, with a covering letter stating that “there is a demonstrable and pressing need for homeless accommodation, supported by the continuation of existing accommodation on-site”.

The shelter operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – providing emergency accommodation and support to people who are rough sleeping or face risk of homelessness.

But planning officers noted the fresh proposals would result in the loss of the three flats currently found in the property earmarked for the shelter’s expansion.

Their report reads: “The council are currently unable to provide a five-year housing land supply, which means the loss of any housing weighs against the proposal.

“Notwithstanding this, the proposal would provide a necessary form of accommodation which would weigh in favour of the application.

“Whilst the temporary accommodation does not fall under the definition of affordable housing, it is meeting the needs of households that are at risk of sleeping rough and would offer temporary safe accommodation while a more permanent solution is found.”

The homeless shelter is currently run by a full time manager on weekdays along with a team of nine support staff, the report says.

A minimum of two staff are on duty at any given time, and an out of hours call service is available in evenings and during weekends.

“All occupants are required to complete a comprehensive assessment prior to being offered a room to understand the causes of their homelessness and to identify support needs and risks,” the documents add.

“The facilities may be deemed unsuitable due to an individual’s history, needs or where risks cannot be safely managed.”

Planning officers are recommending that the application be approved subject to conditions, which councillors will deliberate at their planning meeting on August 26.

Labour Prime Minister Andy Burnham declared that ending rough sleeping would be one of his first priorities when he entered Downing Street.

His government pledged this week to put forward a £442 million package to offer accommodation to everyone sleeping on the streets by Christmas, with areas of greatest need expected to get a larger share of the funding.