Westville Flats
South Hams District Council (SHDC) have added nine temporary accommodation properties to their portfolio in Kingsbridge with the help of £300,000 in capital programme funding.
This project enabled South Hams District Council to deliver:
- 9 housing units
- 1 laundry room
- 1 office (SHDC housing support).
To improve the building’s environmental performance, the project also installed rooftop solar Photovoltaic (PV), which serves the laundry room and office:
- 7.440kW (total solar power)
- 16No x 465 Watt panels
- 5,972kWh per year
- 13.98kWh battery storage.
The Westville Flats project was developed to address the growing need for supported accommodation for residents in South Hams who were homeless or in housing need, by providing a safe, stable place to live while they access tailored support.
The on-site office is used as a base for the Council’s temporary accommodation support worker, who works directly with residents to help secure long-term accommodation, develop skills to better manage their finances and tenancies, and connect with wider support services.
The building also provides space for partner organisations to work alongside residents, making support more accessible and reducing travel time for staff. This integrated approach means more time can be spent helping individuals achieve sustainable housing and employment outcomes.
A resident said:
“Finding myself suddenly homeless after a period of extreme displacement, the psychological impact was overwhelming. To be given the keys to a spacious, thoughtfully converted ground floor flat here was an act of profound consolation. My experience of this refuge is, above all, one of hope.
“I have phenomenal respect for the team who championed this project. Westville Flats is exemplary because it enables a vital period of respite. Living here implicitly encourages civility, respect, and good boundaries. To reconstitute a shattered sense of self is entirely dependent on finding temporary sanctuary in a sense of place. Westville Flats provides exactly that: a safe, calm foundation that gives us the stability we need to find our bearings and begin rebuilding our lives. This is a truly excellent project, that has become a healing reality.”
Councillor Denise O’Callaghan, South Hams Lead Member for Housing, said:
“I am extremely proud of the work being done by our housing team to add more temporary accommodation to our portfolio. This long-term investment will mean that we can temporarily house more people in clear need, all while lowering the costs of doing so.
“Housing is at the top of our political agenda here at South Hams, and bringing the Westville flats into use is an important step in strengthening the support we can offer local people who are facing housing difficulties. Having a housing officer based at the flats throughout the working week will only solidify how we can help those in need.
“These nine newly renovated homes will provide safe, good-quality temporary accommodation, helping residents stay close to their support networks, schools and work while we help them find a longer-term solution. Having a housing officer based on site will also ensure people receive the guidance and support they need during what can be a very challenging time.
“This is just the next step in our housing journey; we recently secured money from the fourth round of the government’s Local Authority Housing Fund, to help secure more temporary accommodation properties across the district. We now have 38 properties to help those in need.”
The addition of nine supported flats strengthens South Hams District Council’s response to the national housing crisis and its commitment to preventing homelessness in the area. Nine flats added to the South Hams portfolio of supported accommodation responds directly to the national housing emergency and looks to prevent homelessness.
Previously, many residents requiring temporary accommodation were placed in bed and breakfasts or holiday accommodation, where access to facilities such as kitchens and laundry services could be limited. Westville Flats offers a more practical solution, providing people with the facilities and support they need while preparing for long term accommodation.
Rather than constructing a new building, the project repurposed an existing property which reduced the carbon impacts associated with new developments. The building has been re-designed to maximise energy efficiency and carbon savings through improved insulation and the installation of solar panels, helping to lower carbon emissions while reducing running costs.
By combining sustainable regeneration with practical support for vulnerable residents, the Westville Flats project is creating lasting social value and helping more people across South Hams move from homelessness towards a secure and independent future.
The capital programme was funded by the UK government as part of the devolution deal for Devon and Torbay which was managed by Devon County Council.