The Officer Key Decision meeting on Tuesday 18 March 2025 approved the pre-procurement of a rough sleeping assessment centre and agreed to an increase in capital funding for the project. The decision was made by Conrad Hall, Corporate Director of Resources, in consultation with Councillor Neil Wilson, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care.

Lady Helen Seymour House Rough Sleeping Assessment Centre - Pre Procurement Approval

The meeting approved the pre-procurement for the refurbishment of Lady Helen Seymour House to create a 42-bedroom Rough Sleeping Assessment Centre. This decision involved increasing the approved capital funding for the project from £9.199 million to £10.802 million and accepting additional grant funding from the Greater London Authority (GLA). The council will now commence procurement for a two-stage design and build tender, using the Procure London Partnership's framework, with an estimated value of £8.923 million.

The refurbishment of Lady Helen Seymour House, located at Florence Road, E13 0DW, aims to deliver key strategic priorities outlined in Newham's Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy. The centre will provide accommodation for rough sleepers directly from the streets, offering a psychologically informed environment to support recovery and the development of independent living skills. It will also conduct holistic assessments to understand individuals' needs and aspirations, and provide wrap-around health and care support through external agencies. An internal 'step-down' facility will also be included for those ready to move towards more independent accommodation.

The need for increased funding arose after a detailed survey in May 2024 identified the necessity for a complete roof replacement and other enhancements to improve the building's structural integrity and energy performance. This has led to an increase in the estimated total cost of the project. The council has secured additional capital grant funding from the GLA and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) to support these increased costs. The council's own prudential borrowing requirement will increase by £0.906 million to £3.576 million, which will be financed by additional rental income generated by the asset, ensuring no revenue pressure on the General Fund.

The procurement process will utilise a two-stage design and build contract, with the first stage involving the award of a Pre-Construction Service Agreement for design services, followed by the submission of the contractor's design and cost proposal. An Advanced Works Agreement is also proposed to facilitate early works before the main contract, aiming to reduce the overall duration of construction on site. The council will not enter into a contract with the successful contractor until the property acquisition is successfully completed.

This project aligns with several of the council's corporate policies and priorities, including the Building a Fairer Newham Corporate Plan 2022-2026 (Priority 1: A healthier Newham and ageing well; Priority 5: Homes for our Residents), the 50 Steps to a Healthier Newham (Priority 11: Building a Borough of Health and Promoting Housing), and the Homelessness and Rough Sleepers Strategy (Priority 3: Support people to move off and stay off the streets). It also supports the Climate Action Just Transition Plan's principles of increasing equity, reducing emissions, and future readiness.

The decision to proceed with pre-procurement was made by Conrad Hall, Corporate Director of Resources, in consultation with Councillor Neil Wilson, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care. The decision was notified to all Members on 18 March 2025, with the call-in period ending at midnight on 25 March 2025, allowing for implementation from 26 March 2025.

The decision record can be found in the Officer Decision Record. Further details on the report can be found in the Public reports pack.