Proposals to boost the supply of temporary accommodation in Tonbridge and Malling took a big step forward last night with the granting of planning permission for a modular homes scheme.
A meeting of all Tonbridge and Malling borough councillors voted unanimously to grant permission for the 12 self-contained units to be built on the former Blue Bell Hill car park, near Aylesford.
The £4m project will provide temporary accommodation for local families who find themselves homeless and who the borough council has a duty to house. Tonbridge and Malling has seen increasing demand for help with homelessness with around 120 households at any one time needing accommodation.
While it owns or leases around 30 properties in the Tonbridge area, the authority has struggled to find suitable properties in the north of the borough. The annual cost of providing temporary accommodation is currently approximately £2.5m a year.
The modular homes will be precision-built off-site and assembled on location, enabling quicker construction and less disruption to the local community than traditional builds. These homes will provide high-quality, energy-efficient accommodation, combining high-performance insulation with low-carbon technologies including solar PV and heat pumps to significantly reduce energy use and running costs for occupants. The council will also have an on-site office from where housing staff will manage the properties and provide support to those living there.
Award-winning modular housing company Zed Pods Limited has been chosen to design and construct the homes. The next phase of the project will be site preparation and factory construction of the modules starting this spring. On-site assembly is due to start in the summer with completion expected in spring 2027.
Cllr Robin Betts, the council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “This marks an important milestone in what is a unique project for Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council. I’m extremely pleased that planning permission was unanimously approved, allowing us to move ahead with this scheme to provide much-needed accommodation in the north of the borough, for families who find themselves in the difficult position of losing their home or becoming homeless.
"By investing in this scheme, we are not only addressing a pressing problem in terms of increased homelessness but also safeguarding our supply of accommodation and delivering better value for money.”
Tom Northway, Chairman of Zed Pods Limited said “We are delighted to have secured planning for this development in collaboration with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council. This high-quality, energy-efficient modular housing scheme will demonstrate how modern off-site construction can rapidly deliver sustainable well-designed accommodation, providing long-term value for both residents and the council”.