North Norfolk refugee housing scheme approved amid criticism

But councillors at North Norfolk District Council (NNDC) have criticised the government for not contributing enough - as the grant only covers around 40pc of the scheme to buy 11 affordable homes.

At their March cabinet meeting, NNDC councillors voted to accept the money and work in partnership with the housing association Flagship to deliver the homes by December. 

NNDC councillor Wendy Fredericks (Image: Supplied)

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.

Councillor Wendy Fredericks, housing and benefits portfolio holder, said it was a “half-hearted attempt at compassion” from the government and asked people not to “feed the anti-refugee narrative”.

Ms Fredericks criticised the government for not giving the same support to local homeless families.

She said: “The only hope is that when these homes are not needed they will remain with our registered providers and be used for temporary accommodation without this strict criteria of who can use them.”

Ten of the homes will be for Ukrainians, and will 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.

A residential neighbourhood in north Norfolk - Picture: Mike Page (Image: Mike Page)

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

This will be delivered at £370,420 - including a £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 in the past year and around 23,000 Afghans in the past two years.