A UK city has built tiny homes to house the homeless on top of a car park. Eight ‘pod homes’ in a Bristol car park are ready to welcome residents for the first time this month.
These single-person homes, complete with a kitchen, bathroom, living area and bedroom, are located on Derby Street Car Park in St George.
Despite concerns about their location opposite St George Preschool, planning permission for these ‘pods’ was granted in December 2022.
They were built and handed over to housing provider Places for People on September 27 and are now ready to house residents who have experienced homelessness but are ready to improve their lives.
The ‘pods’, managed by the Salvation Army, were given to Places for People by Bristol City Council on a peppercorn rental, meaning a very low rental fee, on a 60-year lease. A support worker will be available to look after the residents, who will stay temporarily until they find permanent housing. Due to the size of the properties, a resident can live there for up to two years.
A spokesperson for Bristol City Council told Bristol Live: “As part of our work to support people who have experienced homelessness we have installed eight modular units on Derby Street Car Park in St George.
“These purpose-built modular homes, designed to provide follow-on temporary accommodation for people who have experienced homelessness, were handed over from the Hill Group to Places for People on 27 September.
“We are working with Places for People to move people in during January. This project will transform the lives of Bristol residents that need some extra support.
“In 2021/22, Bristol built 2,563 new homes exceeding the Mayor’s ambitious manifesto target. More are needed to continue to tackle a housing crisis that sees over 20,000 households on our housing waiting list.”
The council also mentioned that there’s plenty of parking around, even though the new ‘pods’ take up 22 spaces. At the busiest times, there are still 11 free spots for cars across Derby Street Car Park, Derby Street and Chalks Road Car Park.
The ‘pods’ are following in the footsteps of another successful housing project called Hope Rise. Built in 2020, this project put 11 ZEDpod apartments on stilts above a car park on Chalks Road. It was made to help young adults who needed support with jobs and school, and it worked so well they’re thinking about doing it all over the country in 2022.
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