Homeless people could be put up in stackable pods as a local authority looks for new ways to meet growing demand for housing.

Gravesham council has accepted a donation of eight SoloHaus Pods from homebuilders The Hill Group to help tackle the increase in homelessness in the borough.

The units, which can be stacked up to two storeys high and have a 60-year life span, are designed to home single, homeless people on a temporary basis.

They each come with a fully-furnished kitchen, living and dining area with storage, bathroom and essentials such as plates, bedding and towels.

In a report discussed by cabinet members at a meeting on June 26, officers said the pods would “complement the council’s existing homelessness accommodation” by providing a “new supply of temporary accommodation”.

It would cost the local authority about £123,000 a year to house eight people in temporary accommodation but £5,700 a year to run the pods.

Although it would not be paying out for accommodation, it does not mean the council would save money due to “wider pressures” and the “increasing demand” for temporary homes.

Gravesham’s cabinet member for housing services, Cllr Jenny Wallace, said: “The SoloHaus pods are a welcome and much-needed addition to our existing supported accommodation in the borough.

“They are designed to help and support single rough sleepers into sustainable accommodation, and they will play an important part in helping them take the next step on the road to getting back on their own two feet, and free up safe space for other rough sleepers who may need it.

“The cost-of-living crisis, rises in rent and higher interest rates are putting a tremendous strain on more and more people, with many finding themselves at the risk of homelessness, often for the first time in their lives.

“In turn, this has seen a huge rise in the demand for us to step in and provide accommodation for those most in need, but the options available to us in terms of finding somewhere safe for people to stay are limited and expensive, especially for single homeless people which the pods are specifically designed for.

“We are looking at having to spend over £1 million on temporary accommodation for those in need in the current financial year, far higher than we budgeted for, and far more than the financial support we receive from central government to help fund this area of our work.

“So, I cannot tell you how welcome and important this generous donation from Hill Group’s Foundation 200 is.

“Once we have an identified site for the pods, we will work closely with local residents to ensure the importance of this addition to their community is understood and that the pods and their occupants are integrated smoothly and with our full and ongoing support.

“I can only thank Hill Group for their generosity in helping us to tackle one of the most important issues facing us today.”

The council is now in the process of identifying a suitable place for the pods. It estimates a site the size of 16 garages would be needed.

Once agreed, the Hill Group will take forward the scheme and submit a planning application.

Group chief executive at The Hill Group, Andy Hill, said: “SoloHaus are specially designed, furnished, and fully equipped for a single person to live in, with every detail designed to support residents’ needs.

“The homes are designed to Future Homes Standards, exceeding building regulations for sound insulation and energy efficiency. With a design life of 60 years, they provide a short-term solution to vulnerable individuals who have nowhere to call home.

“We have already donated these purpose-built modular homes to many charities and councils across the country and look forward to working with Gravesham Borough Council to help provide people who are experiencing periods of homelessness with high-quality, secure, and sustainable homes.”

It usually takes 12 weeks to install the pods, which can be manufactured within 20 days and lifted onto a site with half an hour.

Once complete, they will be managed by the council.