Plans to erect temporary houses for the homeless on a disused commuter car park have taken a major step forward.

A contractor has been appointed to build 12 self-contained units on the former Blue Bell Hill car park near Chatham, subject to planning permission.

London-based firm Zed Pods will be working with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC) to erect the modular homes.

Each unit will be designed to a high standard and built off-site before being assembled on the former car park, which is owned by the local authority.

The modular properties will also include solar panels and heat pumps to help reduce running costs for occupants.

It is hoped the £4 million scheme will help TMBC meet the increasing demand for help with homelessness in the borough, which sees around 120 households at any one time needing homes.

The council’s overall bill for providing temporary accommodation is around £2.5 million per year.

While it owns or leases around 30 properties in the Tonbridge area, there is little available in the north of the borough, meaning people are often placed a long distance from their former homes.

Cllr Robin Betts, the council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “Providing temporary accommodation for those who, through no fault of their own, find themselves homeless is a duty we are committed to meeting, but have to acknowledge the increasing strain it places on our budgets.

“This scheme will not only provide a cost-effective supply of additional homes but also enable more homeless families from the north of our borough to remain close to the area where they have local connections.

“I am excited to have Zed Pods on board and look forward to this important project moving forward and strengthening our ability to better support homeless families in our borough.”

Chairman of Zed Pods, Tom Northway, added: “We are delighted to partner with TMBC to deliver rapid-build, high-quality, energy-efficient homes for vulnerable local households.

“Our innovative modular solutions combine precision engineering with renewable technology. These sustainable homes with low-running costs will make a real difference to residents’ lives.”

The Blue Bell Hill scheme will be paid for from a local authority housing fund grant, council reserves and up to £1 million of developer contributions linked to projects elsewhere in the borough.

TMBC is aiming to submit a planning application in November.

The project has previously been criticised by Chatham and Aylesford MP Tris Osborne, who said it was “disappointing” that, as a neighbouring authority, Medway had not been consulted on the plans.

The council was accused of dumping on its neighbours, given its far-flung location next to the M2 and the potential for it to place further strain on already stretched services in the Towns.

The 278-space Blue Bell Hill car park, which is at the Chatham end of the junction, was closed in 2023 following a sharp drop in usage linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The site was also plagued with anti-social behaviour, including nuisance drivers, sparking more than 100 complaints from those living nearby.

TMBC bought the land for use as a car park from Kent County Council in 2003 for £100,000.