A former industrial site in Gainsborough has been transformed into much-needed homes for young people thanks to collaboration between a leading supported housing provider, West Lindsey District Council and the Homes and Communities Agency.
Axiom Housing Association acquired the site in Wembley Street from housing group, Acis last year, enabling it to develop it as part of a satellite extension to its Market Rasen Foyer.
Foyers provide supported accommodation for young people aged 16 to 25 years old. As well as a safe place to call home the scheme offers personal support, training and employment advice.
The new foyer accommodation, which has space for 12 young people and is rated as BREEAM Very Good, has been designed by Allan Joyce Architects and was built by Woodhead Living, the specialist sustainability team of Robert Woodhead Limited.
The scheme was funded by a £200k grant from West Lindsey District Council and a further £288k cash injection from the Homes and Communities Agency’s Homelessness Change funding initiative.
Cllr Owen Bierley, Chairman of the Prosperous Communities Committee at the council said: “I am looking forward to visiting the new young persons’ accommodation scheme in Gainsborough.
This much-needed facility demonstrates our commitment to helping young people by helping to provide high-quality support and accommodation. We are also pleased that the location of the project has helped to improve a key site in Gainsborough, contributing to our wider regeneration aims for the area.”
“The scheme meets a number of our corporate objectives and demonstrates our commitment to helping young people through the provision of high-quality support and accommodation. It is also helping to improve a key site in Gainsborough and contributes to our wider regeneration aims for the area.”
Alan Lewin Chief Executive at Axiom, added: “We’re very proud to open this new foyer, which will enable 12 young people to have stability in their lives while gaining new skills and confidence to live independently.
“The success of this scheme is yet another example of how collaboration with our partners is instrumental in providing specialist accommodation for young people in our communities. “
Craig Pygall Construction Director, from Robert Woodhead Ltd, said: “This has been a fantastic project and a real team effort, working in partnership with Axiom and West Lindsey District Council. I know the scheme and the accommodation will provide a valuable and much needed support service for vulnerable young people.
“We were delighted to be engaged with the project from a very early stage and as a result we have been able to ensure the build process has been as efficient as possible, we were on site within four weeks and are delighted to have been able to regenerate what was previously a brownfield site in the town.”