Ukrainian and Afghan refugees could soon have new homes thanks to a £1.2m government grant. 

North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) has been offered the money to buy 11 affordable homes.

A report prepared ahead of an NNDC cabinet meeting on Monday recommends councilors accept the grant and work in partnership with the housing association Flagship to deliver the homes by December. 

When the homes are no longer needed by the refugees, the council could use them as temporary accommodation for homeless households, or as other social housing.

The report says: “The 11 homes will take some of the pressure away from the district’s limited affordable and temporary housing.

“In the longer term, the 11 homes will become available to re-let for use either as temporary housing or as part of the district’s affordable housing stock.” 

Ten of the homes will be for Ukrainians, and would cost £2.1m - £840,000 from the grant and £1.26m in match funding, plus an extra £200,000 grant for extras such as refurbishment and furniture.

The other home, which will have at least four bedrooms, would be used as ‘bridging accommodation’ for Afghans.

This would be delivered at £370,420 - including £185,210 grant plus £185,210 match funding - with £20,000 for extras. 

The money comes from a £500 million Local Authority Housing Fund. 

There are 129 Ukrainian adults and 62 children currently being hosted in North Norfolk. 

Of these, 39 are staying at an International Farm Camp run by Place UK in Tunstead.

The UK has welcomed 150,000 Ukrainians through the Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine Scheme since Russia invaded their country on February 20 last year. 

The oppressive Taliban regime regained control of Afghanistan on May 1, 2021. Since then 23,000 Afghans have come to the UK.