Plans have been submitted to erect eight modular homes for temporary accommodation for homeless people.

The Hill Partnership wants to place eight Solohaus pods on land off St Alban’s Close, near Valley Drive, in Gravesend.

The units are designed to house single homeless people on a temporary basis to help tackle the increase in homelessness in the borough.

They are intended for those who need low levels of support and will serve as transitional accommodation for around six months to two years before they move to private or social housing.

The submitted planning statement claims that there is a “significant need” for this form of accommodation in the borough.

It said the residents, who would be homeless or rough sleeping, would otherwise be housed in nightly paid accommodation at “significant expense to the taxpayer”.

The document added: “This will enable the council to concentrate on the temporary and supported accommodation that is available to meet the needs of those who require more intensive support and for families.

“While the proposal delivers eight units, this should be taken as a small but extremely valuable contribution to address the issue of homelessness in Gravesham.”

According to government figures, between July and September 2024, more than 126,000 households were in temporary accommodation, with 44,920 households being homeless across the country.

The Hill Partnership donated the modular homes to Gravesham council back in July 2023, however, it is now seeking permission to erect them.

If approved, the single-storey homes would form a terrace, extending the properties already near the 1,510 sq m site, and each would have a small paved area enclosed with a timber fence.

The pods come with a fully-furnished kitchen, living and dining area with storage, bathroom and essentials such as plates, bedding and towels.

Associated plant, bin and bike stores and landscaping have also been drawn into the scheme.

No car parking spaces have been proposed as the planning statement believes the likelihood of the tenants owning a vehicle is unlikely due to their circumstances.

If approved, the pods would be installed by the Hill Partnership but managed by the council’s homelessness team.

The proposed land is owned by Gravesham council and forms part of the public open space off St Alban’s Close, which would be lost if the plans are given the go-ahead.

However, the applicant claims the site is a surplus requirement due to the amount of provisions already in the area and that only a “very small amount” would be used.

The housebuilders also addressed concerns surrounding potential anti-social behaviour and the vulnerabilities of those living there.

They explained new residents would have a non-secure licence agreement, meaning the local authority could end their tenancy if the agreements are breached.

The planning statement added: “This helps ensure that antisocial behaviour does not become an issue locally, and specifically covers matters associated with, for instance, noise, nuisance and behaviour.

“The modular housing will be a well-managed and essential community facility providing accommodation for residents who are capable of living completely independently.”

To see more planning applications and other public notices for your area, click here.

A decision is expected on the plans by Friday, July 11.

A similar scheme for homeless people has already been built in Henwood Industrial Estate, in Ashford.

Known as Fortis House, modular company Zed Pods has designed and built 23 self-contained units with a mixture of one-bed, two-bed and three-bed properties to ensure individuals and families could be accommodated.

Read More: Are modular homes the answer to the UK’s housing crisis?

A modular home is a prefabricated building, meaning it is constructed in sections or modules off-site, usually in a factory, as opposed to being built on-site.