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| Luton's Purley Centre flats due to be demolished | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A block of flats in Luton used by the borough council to house homeless people is due to be demolished once alternative accommodation is built | |
| The 1960s Purley Centre block in Marsh Farm is now home to 57 families. | The 1960s Purley Centre block in Marsh Farm is now home to 57 families. |
| Recently another 40 families were being housed in a hotel at a cost to the council of £50,000 a month. | Recently another 40 families were being housed in a hotel at a cost to the council of £50,000 a month. |
| The borough council is building 209 new homes and has invited private landlords to bid for a temporary accommodation contract worth £28m over four years. | The borough council is building 209 new homes and has invited private landlords to bid for a temporary accommodation contract worth £28m over four years. |
| A council spokeswoman said the Purley Centre flats had been "refurbished up to acceptable standards for the duration of their use, in response to an urgent need to accommodate homeless families". | A council spokeswoman said the Purley Centre flats had been "refurbished up to acceptable standards for the duration of their use, in response to an urgent need to accommodate homeless families". |
| She added: "This is only a temporary measure until we have received planning approval for our proposals to redevelop the Marsh Farm central area, creating in excess of 100 new permanent homes. | She added: "This is only a temporary measure until we have received planning approval for our proposals to redevelop the Marsh Farm central area, creating in excess of 100 new permanent homes. |
| "The current building will then be demolished as part of the redevelopment programme." | "The current building will then be demolished as part of the redevelopment programme." |
| Currently 780 homeless households are in temporary accommodation in Luton, where the council is believed to be England's biggest user of private landlords outside London. | Currently 780 homeless households are in temporary accommodation in Luton, where the council is believed to be England's biggest user of private landlords outside London. |
| Tom Shaw, who is the councillor in charge of housing at Luton Borough Council, said bed and breakfast accommodation was not ideal for families. | Tom Shaw, who is the councillor in charge of housing at Luton Borough Council, said bed and breakfast accommodation was not ideal for families. |
| "It's not nice for the homeless families and their children whose schools may even be on the far side of town from where they are now living," he said. | "It's not nice for the homeless families and their children whose schools may even be on the far side of town from where they are now living," he said. |
| "About 18 months ago we looked in to working with private landlords." | "About 18 months ago we looked in to working with private landlords." |
| Green Belt limit | Green Belt limit |
| Now the council has invited landlords to tender for a contract to provide temporary accommodation. | Now the council has invited landlords to tender for a contract to provide temporary accommodation. |
| The council is also building 209 new homes - the first in the borough for two decades - but it admits 2,500 are needed to meet demand. | The council is also building 209 new homes - the first in the borough for two decades - but it admits 2,500 are needed to meet demand. |
| The authority said it did not have a "disproportionate number of homeless households compared to similar boroughs of size and urbanisation". | The authority said it did not have a "disproportionate number of homeless households compared to similar boroughs of size and urbanisation". |
| "Indeed the numbers that Luton accepts as homeless is broadly similar to Bedford Borough Council, one of our partner authorities," a spokesperson said. | "Indeed the numbers that Luton accepts as homeless is broadly similar to Bedford Borough Council, one of our partner authorities," a spokesperson said. |
| "Luton is a landlocked borough, completely enclosed by either Green Belt or areas of outstanding natural beauty. | "Luton is a landlocked borough, completely enclosed by either Green Belt or areas of outstanding natural beauty. |
| "This leaves the situation that potential for growth is hindered and only small infill developments of brownfield sites present for any housing. | "This leaves the situation that potential for growth is hindered and only small infill developments of brownfield sites present for any housing. |
| "We have a larger proportion of households occupying temporary accommodation for longer periods than other authorities, thus presenting the image that we have a disproportionate number of homeless households," the spokesperson added. | "We have a larger proportion of households occupying temporary accommodation for longer periods than other authorities, thus presenting the image that we have a disproportionate number of homeless households," the spokesperson added. |