An empty Grade II listed building has been rescued from ruin and turned into a permanent hostel for homeless people thanks to a London Borough of Hillingdon joint project.

The Cedars in Hillingdon, West London, was falling into disrepair before the council joined forces with freeholders Fassnidge Property Trust and local charity, Trinity Homeless Projects, to develop the site into a hostel.

The High Street, Uxbridge building has been carefully refurbished and re-fitted to make it suitable for housing nine single homeless people at a total cost of £115,000 funded through an empty property grant from the West London Housing Partnership.

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Trinity Homeless Projects, who will be running the site, have also worked with IKEA to provide furniture for the property.

On 19 December, the hostel officially open its doors with those housed at the facility being given full support to get their lives back on track.

Cllr Philip Corthorne, Cabinet Member for Social Care, Health and Housing, said: "The conversion of this building into a homeless hostel is one that will benefit some of our most vulnerable residents. This is a prime example of how Hillingdon is using what would otherwise be an empty property to house residents in need and help them get back on their feet."

(CD)