The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Plans for a new facility to support homeless veterans and reintegrate them back into society have been approved by South Holland District Council’s Planning Committee.
The facility, known as Project Dignity, will be located on land at Terekmok, situated on Station Road in Gedney Hill.
John Murray, a former serviceman, will spearhead the initiative, with the support of partner Mel Shephard.
Mr. Murray highlighted the challenges faced by many veterans, stating: “Many vets are sofa hoppers, and the problem is they can’t get a job because there is nowhere to live. They can’t get a bank account because of no job or address, can’t get somewhere to live because can’t get a job and cannot save for a deposit. This is where Project Dignity will excel.”
The reintegration facility will provide accommodation and specialised support to armed forces veterans.
Mr. Murray emphasised the importance of helping veterans gain new careers in farming, horticulture, or other fields they wish to pursue.
He added: “The vets want to work and get a place to live. We are a step up to help them learn civilian life skills. We will help them gain experience in land-based employment or attend college for courses they might be interested in.”
According to the plans submitted to the council, the facility is a direct response to the high number of homeless ex-servicemen in Lincolnshire and aims to coordinate efforts to assist their reintroduction into society.
The proposed facility will offer temporary accommodation for up to six individuals over a 12-month period, along with employment opportunities and safe living arrangements.
To ensure round-the-clock assistance, a manager’s accommodation building will be included on-site.
The application was previously deferred for more information as members of the previous committee raised potential issues with the application including it being outside the usual limits of development.
Councillor Laura Eldridge, representing the ward, expressed concerns about veterans with severe mental health or substance misuse issues and called for the monitoring of incidents involving the police.
However, the council members were reassured when informed that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) would be involved in overseeing the facility’s operations.
Chairman James Avery stated, “There were reservations about the quality of care, but given CQC has teeth and can bite, that gives me a great deal of confidence that the applicants are serious about this venture.”
The facility, which will have an access point on Station Road and off-street car parking provision, has been granted permission for a period of five years. At the end of this period, the facility will need to reapply for approval.
