More accommodation is being planned for homeless people in Hereford this winter.

Herefordshire Council plans to turn the Acorn Building, a mobile classroom by the Venn’s Close car park previously used by Brookfield special school, into a temporary homeless shelter.

It follows similar planning applications last week to set up four temporary homeless “pods” alongside the classroom, plus a further two at the county bus station car park off Commercial Road.

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The council says it has consulted on the plan with councillors, official agencies and voluntary group locally through the Herefordshire Homeless Forum.

It announced last month that it had been granted government funding of £60,000 to prepare the shelter and to staff it overnight, along with £47,647 to buy four new accommodation pods and £40,000 to rent up to eight more.

“The premises identified and pods purchased ensure there is an immediate and safe off-the-streets offer for people experiencing rough sleeping,” the council said.

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These will remain in place until April, after which “a review of arrangements will take place and these pods may be relocated according to demand”, it added.

As of October it was aware of 18 people rough sleeping in the county, but expected “up to 22” individuals would need to be accommodated, with separate space for men and women.

Local authorities have a duty provide emergency accommodation for rough sleepers during extreme weather.

Comments on this latest planning application, numbered 233539, can be made until December 30.