Plans unveiled for new 56-bed Lincoln homeless shelter

Plans for a new multi-million pound homeless shelter in Lincoln would see over 50 bed spaces created for vulnerable people in the city.

Proposals have been lodged with the City of Lincoln Council by joint applicants The Nomad Trust, and YMCA Lincolnshire for a site on St Rumbold’s Street, north of the River Witham and near to the Lincolnshire YMCA Centre.

Visual: Stem Architects

The site currently contains a number of 20th century terrace houses, owned by the YMCA, providing move-on accommodation for 14 people.

These buildings would be demolished to make way for the new centre.

Demand for this type of accommodation in the city is growing according to the charities, and Nomad Trust say they are in “desperate need” to increase their capacity.

Visual: Stem Architects

The new Nomad Trust night shelter would provide housing for 32 overnight bed spaces in 16 en-suite rooms for the vulnerable and homeless.

Some 40 self-contained open-plan apartments would also be provided for temporary lodging.

Space would also be used for a community cafe, encouraging integration and skills training such as cooking, as well as a triage room where people can be assessed by staff.

Visual: Stem Architects

The applicants say in the design and access statement: “The layout and size of the existing two-storey houses do not provide opportunity to retain the existing housing, in order to achieve the required numbers of accommodation and a community day centre space.

“This facility provides a space for people to meet and integrate socially, and gain the opportunity to train new skills such as home cooking.

“With this in mind, the decision was made to clear the site and provide a bespoke new facility which would meet the demand, and be fit for purpose for many years to come.”

Visual: Stem Architects

The building design, created in partnership with Stem Architects, is said to be “sympathetic to its urban context”, with extra consideration given to the height of the building.

The Nomad Trust’s current night shelter on Monks Road offers accommodation for around 21 people each night.

Should planning permission be granted, the charity plans on selling the Monks Road facility, with money going towards the new build.

The two year project will be fuelled by a fundraising campaign.