ROUGH sleepers will be asked to give their views on the design of a new £1.6m centre for the homeless.

Oxford City Council is creating the £1.6m 60-bed hub in the former job centre in Floyds Row, off St Aldates, which it owns.

The building has remained empty since November 2017, but the council's homelessness team has now submitted a planning application to its building department to develop a new homeless assessment hub and provide winter-long emergency accommodation for rough sleepers, and the building could open later this year.

Oxford Mail:

The number of homeless people in the city has increased - the estimated figure rose in November to 94, compared to 89 the previous year and a number of homeless people have died.

READ AGAIN: New £1.6m homeless hub planned for former job centre

The council has commissioned Oxford architects Jessop and Cook and city-based Transition by Design, who are working together on the transformation of 1 Floyds Row into a new centre helping to prevent and reduce homelessness.

Linda Smith, deputy leader of Oxford City Council and board member for leisure and housing, said: “Nobody should have to sleep rough in Oxford, and the transformation of Floyds Row will be an important part of our plans to help realise this. I’m really pleased to have Transition by Design and Jessop and Cook Architects on board to design and deliver what will be a high quality flagship service, and I'm pleased we’re involving people experiencing homelessness as an integral part of this process.”

Oxford Mail:

Transition by Design is working with potential service users – including people currently experiencing homelessness – to co-design the building. Among its key findings so far are the need for a calm and functional environment, provision for dogs, and a mix of different spaces including private space.

READ AGAIN: Oxford homeless deaths: council to 'review tragedy on our streets'

Lucy Warin, project designer at Transition by Design, said: “We’re very excited to be working alongside people who have experienced what it’s like to be homeless in Oxford to design this building. Who better to design it then the people who know what it is like to spend time in such a place?”

Jessop and Cook Architects will produce a detailed technical design package. Once fully operational, Floyds Row will provide assessment services and shelter for up to 60 people.

Oxford Mail:

Dan Wadsworth and Harry Tuke, Jessop and Cook Architects, said: “To work on a project like this is very humbling and to hear people’s experiences of being homeless has been moving and enlightening.

“This has been crucial in learning how to create a homely place for people to stay safely.

"This is very much a collaborative approach between people and organisations to use their knowledge, skills and experiences.

Oxford Mail:

"We are aiming for Floyds Row to set a new high standard for the city and others alike.”

READ AGAIN: Another homeless death: churchyard man was sleeping rough

Councillors are expected to agree a plan this month that will allow Floyds Row to operate for up to five years.

The council has already committed £184,000 to refurbishing the building and is seeking external funding – from the Government and through fundraising activities by the Oxford Homeless Movement – to meet remaining capital costs.