A LIST of projects designed to get homeless people out of bed-and-breakfast accommodation has been cautiously approved.

Conversion of a hostel in Thirsk and redevelopment of sites in Northallerton, Thirsk, Topcliffe and Easingwold are among measures suggested by Hambleton District Council's officers as it tries to work out a more coordinated strategy for affordable homes.

The cabinet was told on Tuesday Hambleton's performance on affordable homes had been mixed, and a recent inspection had concluded it was not achieving its targets.

Steve Quartermain, director of planning and environmental services, said work was continuing with organisations such as the Housing Corporation and Broadacres Housing Association to develop a new draft strategy that would eventually be reported to the cabinet.

Areas under discussion included work with a registered social landlord on surveys of needs, a joint initiative with the county council on use of revenue from council tax on second homes and money available to Hambleton under a "clawback" arrangement following transfer of housing stock to Broadacres.

Mr Quartermain said as an interim step there were some "quick wins'' that could be investigated this year to achieve known requirements, subject to planning approval and consultations with existing tenants.

Hambleton had worked with Broadacres to identify five projects for rented accommodation that would cost more than the £1m already committed by the council, and so would need additional external funding.

One proposal was to convert a hostel in Westgate, Thirsk, into five flats for single homeless people at a cost of £171,000. At present, the hostel was occupied by four families and two single people who needed to be re-housed.

At Meadow Lane, Northallerton, it was proposed to demolish 34 garages, offer alternative space to the users and redevelop the site for seven houses accommodating three people at a cost of £464,000.

Mr Quartermain said this would help re-house residents from Bankhead Road flats, which could then be used for family accommodation for homeless people.

A similar project at Thirsk would cost £556,000. It was proposed to replace 35 garages with nine houses accommodating between three and five people. This would enable the council to re-house occupants of Hambleton Avenue flats, which could then accommodate homeless families.

At Topcliffe, it would cost £546,000 to replace two houses with defects, with seven properties housing five people each, while at Easingwold there was potential to redevelop a site at present occupied by one-bedroom bungalows with seven larger properties for between three and five people, at a cost of £511,000.

Mr Quartermain said a total of £1.1m in grants would be needed, but said: "As a programme of schemes, it does represent a good basis for agreement in principle subject to further detailed reports, and if agreed could also be the basis of seeking further additional funding, for example from the county council or the Housing Corporation."

Coun David Blades said: "This would be taking homeless people out of long-term bed and breakfast, but there is a long way to go."

Coun Ralph Andrew said that if the projects went ahead with Broadacres, they should be for the benefit of homeless people in Hambleton and not from other areas such as Teesside.

The projects were approved subject to further reports.