North Yorkshire Council is proposing an £18 million investment to expand its temporary accommodation stock by nearly 25 per cent, aiming to curb emergency housing costs and support households facing homelessness.
The expanded delivery programme, going before executive members on Tuesday 15th September 2026, increases the council’s target from 90 to 112 dedicated temporary homes across the county. The shift focuses heavily on meeting a shortage of one-bedroom properties for single people and couples.
Demand for emergency housing in North Yorkshire has surged in recent years, pushing council spending on temporary accommodation from £500,000 in 2019/20 to more than £2.1 million in 2022/23. Once fully occupied, the expanded 112-home scheme is projected to save the local authority up to £2.7 million annually by reducing reliance on hotels and bed and breakfast placements.
The authority currently has access to 191 purpose-built or converted temporary units. As part of its current phase, 20 homes have been delivered, with another 40 properties undergoing improvement works before occupation.
“Everyone deserves access to safe, secure and suitable accommodation when they are facing difficult circumstances,” said Cllr Simon Myers, executive member for housing at North Yorkshire Council. “The demand for homelessness support and temporary accommodation has increased significantly in recent years, and we are seeing a growing need for smaller one-bedroom homes.”
“We remain committed to supporting vulnerable households while reducing our reliance on hotel and B&B accommodation, which comes at a significant cost to the taxpayer,” Myers added.
The proposals form part of North Yorkshire Council’s homelessness and rough sleeping strategy, adopted last year to address rising housing pressure across the region.
