Vulnerable families in Birmingham in need of temporary accommodation will benefit from the acquisition of a property in the city.
Birmingham City Council has purchased Washington Court, which it intends to use to provide suitable temporary accommodation for several families in need of a home.
The council expects to complete the necessary work to prepare the building for use in the latter half of 2026.
Once ready, the building will feature dedicated one-on-one support to help families find permanent homes.
Councillor Nicky Brennan, cabinet member for housing and homelessness, said:
“Providing warm, safe, suitable accommodation for everyone who needs it is a key priority for this council.
“However, the country is facing a severe housing crisis, with demand for accommodation at an all-time high. This crisis is putting immense pressure on our housing support services, as is the case for many other councils across the country.
“The increased demand and limited supply have meant that around 800 families with dependent children are being housed in B&B accommodation in Birmingham.
“B&Bs are not suitable places to house families with dependent children, so we are doing everything we can to increase our supply of temporary accommodation.
“We acknowledge there is much more to do – but this acquisition will go a long way to improving the situation.
“Opportunities to acquire sites of this size, in the city centre, do not come up very often, so I would like to thank Trident for giving us the opportunity to acquire Washington Court.”
Nigel Wilson, Trident Group Chief Executive, said:
“We are pleased that the site can continue to make a difference for the city in a new way by providing vital temporary accommodation for some of Birmingham’s most vulnerable families. The site’s new life, providing safe and comfortable accommodation, builds on a legacy of over two decades of providing accommodation to over 6,000 people across the city.
“We are glad that we can continue to provide support in collaboration with Birmingham City Council and other partners to people who find themselves homeless or sleeping rough at smaller sites across the city, providing a more stable environment for service users to begin their journey into accommodation.”