New Brighton homeless hub to provide overnight beds

The hub is intended to provide overnight beds for up to 15 people in King’s Road behind the Queens Hotel.

The building was formerly La Çiya Turkish restaurant and previously the Bellis art gallery.

Plans to convert the building were submitted by Brighton and Hove City Council last year and approved by the council’s Planning Committee at Hove Town Hall on Wednesday February 5.

The seafront building is to become a homeless assessment hub to support people who are new to rough sleeping and provide them with short-term accommodation and a “crash pad”.

The had looked at 10 properties over 18 months in its search for a suitable building, with some too big and others, in more residential areas, facing opposition from neighbours.

Green councillor Tom Druitt, who represents Regency ward, told the Planning Committee that he understood the concerns of people living nearby.

But, he said, something had to be done about the number of rough sleepers on the streets.

Councillor Druitt said: “We’re all very lucky we can all go home tonight to a warm house and have a hot bath and go to sleep in a comfy bed.

“Many in our city, as you know, aren’t so lucky. It’s a crying shame that we as a city council have not yet been able to solve this problem despite many, many attempts.”

He said that he had spoken to rough sleepers about the problems that they had faced with hostels and other accommodation.