Container homes could put a roof over young people's heads in Brighton

Factory-built apartments could be used to provide affordable housing for young people in Brighton and Hove.
Y:Cube homes could be coming to MoulsecoombY:Cube homes could be coming to Moulsecoomb
Y:Cube homes could be coming to Moulsecoomb

A proposal to provide 21 new homes in Eastergate Road, Moulsecoomb, will be considered by the council’s housing and new homes committee on June 14.

The apartments, known as Y:Cubes, will aim to make use of a small council-owned garage site, to provide affordable housing for young people. The council said this land, adjacent to a trading estate, would be unsuitable for family housing and difficult to develop by conventional methods.

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The move is a joint initiative between Brighton and Hove City Council and the YMCA DownsLink Group charity.

Cllr Anne Meadows, chair of the housing and new homes committee, said: “There is huge demand for housing in the city and we are looking at creative and innovative ways of putting small pockets of underused land to best use, to improve neighbourhoods for existing residents and provide more homes for local people to rent.”

The council said the scheme is still early days – at this stage councillors will consider whether to lease the land to the YMCA. A final decision on the lease will be made by the policy, resources and growth committee in July and, if a lease is granted, the YMCA will have to apply for planning permission.

Thirty-six Y:Cube apartments have already been completed by YMCA in Mitcham, and more schemes are in development in the London area. The homes - which are delivered to their location by lorry and craned into place - are designed to provide high quality accommodation and last as long as traditionally built homes.

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The Y:Cube was developed by YMCA South West London in response to the housing crisis and lack of affordable accommodation for young people, and designed by architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners. The apartments are used to help young people who are ready to move on from hostels and supported accommodation.

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