The Home Group has defended its plans to build accommodation for the homeless in the centre of Aycliffe.

Planning permission has been granted for 12 flats to be built for people who are homeless.

Ray Williams from Aycliffe said the community would fight hard to block the property, which many residents fear will bring an increase of anti-social behaviour to the neighbourhood.

Robert Weatherall, spokesman for the Home Group, said: “We’ve successfully run a homeless service in Dover for a number of years.

“The current property is outdated and although people have their own rooms they do need to share communal facilities such as bathrooms and a kitchen.

“The new building will create fully self-contained flats which will benefit the people living there by giving them more independence. It’s a well run service which is supported by the council and the local police. We don’t tolerate anti-social behaviour.

“On the rare occasions Home Group receives a report of anti- social behaviour we always take action.” - Robert Weatherall, Home Group

“On the rare occasions Home Group receives a report of anti- social behaviour we always take action.”

The housing association are holding a meeting on the estate on May 8, but only those invited are able to attend.

Town councillor Chris Precious has since been in contact with the group asking why only a select few can come.

Becky Wright, the capital development project manager, said in a letter to Cllr Precious: “While being open and transparent with the community is important to us, past experience has shown that open meetings with large number of attendees can be dominated by specific interest groups to the detriment of the wider community and that some voices are drowned out.

“We believe the people invited are able to represent the local community and able to provide feedback to their relevant forums.

“We’ve given advance notice of this meeting so that those invited have plenty of time to consult with the groups they represent, collate their views and raise issues on their behalf.

“We are very happy to provide copies of the meeting minutes.”

Dover MP Charlie Elphicke has since been invited to the meeting.

He said: “The important thing is that the residents’ concerns are listened to. Aycliffe councillors have important questions to answer – the community feel they have been taken for granted.”