John West House, in Howarth Road, opened in 2017 and has previously been used as an emergency night shelter for rough sleepers. At the time, the council agreed to invest almost £2million towards the refurbishment of John West House to turn it into a dedicated hostel facility. But at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, councillors heard the borough is not able to manage the hostel so an outside management provider will be sought. A project manager was then recruited by the council to deliver the John West House renovation which was completed last year. Cllr Del Campo said the procurement process for a permanent management provider has already started.

Source: Express March 28, 2026 02:17 UTC