By Carmelo Garcia – Local Democracy Reporter
The use of a former Gloucester care home as temporary accommodation for refugees will be extended for another year.
Wheatridge Court in Abbeydale has been used to help 116 people find long term accommodation after being granted leave to remain in the UK since Gloucestershire County Council chiefs approved its new use in December 2023.
A person who has been granted leave to remain is legally recognised as having permission to live and work in the country.
The 36-bed property was vacant at the time and was identified as a site which could temporarily house newly recognised refugees without ‘priority need’ under housing legislation.
Cabinet has agreed today (December 3) that council should conduct a competitive procurement process for the supply of accommodation-based housing related support at Wheatridge Court.
The proposed £600,000 contract would be for an initial period of one year starting on July 1, 2026 with an option to extend its term for a further year.
Public Health, Communities and Fire cabinet member Paul Hodgkinson (LD, Bourton-on-the-Water and Northleach) said the renewal would be a “vital” part of the council’s safety net and its values.
He said when refugees are granted leave of remain in the UK, they are given 28 days to leave Home Office accommodation.
“That’s 28 days to find a home, find work and rebuild their lives,” he said.
“Without support, too many are pushed into homelessness and roughsleeping.
“When that happens it is not good for anyone. It’s not good for those individuals and it is not good for our communities.”
He said Wheatridge Court has been a very prudent and proven response to this issue.
A total of 116 people have been supported into long term accommodation thanks to the facility, he added.
“The vast majority of those have moved into private rented homes and it has helped prevent roughsleeping across Gloucestershire,” he added.
“It’s a service that protects the vulnerable, it protects public health and it protects our streets.”
He said the County Council has worked with Gloucester City Council and Cheltenham Borough Council to rapidly establish the initiative.
“We recognise that a short extra period of up to three months’ accommodation with support to improve English, to find a job and secure independent accommodation will ultimately help refugees to participate fully in society,” he added.
He said it helps accelerate their integration, reduce the reliance on public services and impact on the wider population and become active contributing members of the community.
Councillor Julian Tooke (LD, Pittville and St Paul’s) said the scheme had his “wholehearted” support.
“There is a clear moral and economic imperative for this,” he said.
“These people have been found to be refugees. Many of them will have been through hell and back.
“Stuff that many British people won’t understand because they won’t have experienced it.
“The last thing you need to happen when you’ve been through that stuff is to then end up on the street and destitute.”