A NEW pilot housing scheme could help solve problems facing families on the streets.

Dozens of temporary homes are set to be installed on the former Town Depot site Chapel Riverside, on Albert Road North in a bid to help those in need of affordable housing, homeless families and displaced families.

Inland Homes will erect 44 self-contained homes, of which Southampton City Council will pilot six as temporary accommodation for homeless families.

A spokesperson for the council said: “As it will be temporary accommodation it is not expected that any tenant will be in occupation for more than 15 months, which gives us time to work with the families to find suitable homes for the longer term.

“If the pilot is successful we will be looking at other regeneration sites across the city to see whether temporary accommodation could assist during the development or redevelopment of those sites.”

Each home on the site will be two-bedroom units.

Seven storage units, two facilities units, one site management unit, refuse enclosure and a car park will all be erected on the site for a maximum of five years.

Inland Homes said that at the end of that period where there remains a housing duty, accommodation for those on-site will be offered elsewhere.

A spokesperson added: “The majority of units are for a discounted market rent offer which will be privately leased on a Pre-agreed lease term with residents.

“As the lease term comes to a close ready for disassembly of the homes, private residents will be notified in accordance with the lease terms and with adequate notice to find new accommodation.”

The units are called Hugg Homes, which are modular buildings that can be built quickly, used and moved on when required.

Inland Homes say they are designed to take advantage of the period during construction, especially on larger sites, when useable land is available.

The units can be manufactured in 12 weeks and are assembled offsite before being delivered.

Each homes between two and four people, so they can be used by couples or young families.

Despite, the city council’s ambition to help homeless families, some residents disapprove of the development.

Milo Maguire, of Radway Road, said any building work would be “trashing the environment”. He added that Inland Homes had not made a firm commitment to protect archaeology on the site.