A HOSTEL for homeless families has been given a major overhaul after a £90,000 refurbishment – and will be ready just in time for Christmas.

Richmondshire District Council-owned George Nickling House, Colburn, gives homeless people temporary accommodation while they are waiting for a permanent home in the area.

The district council spent £40,000 of its own resources on the project, as well as a £50,000 Ministry of Defence Community Covenant Grant.

The hostel, which is split over two sites and currently has a 12-bed hotel mainly catering for families, and a four-bed unit nearby, was built in 1993 and in serious need of updating.

The council’s housing options manager Elizabeth Pybus said the hostel had been re-painted and carpeted two years ago, but it was time to make it more modern for families in need of emergency accommodation.

She said: “Before 2012 it was run by another company but we took over management after the shared services between Richmondshire and Hambleton district councils separated.

“We gave it an initial facelift but the building had shared bathrooms, which we felt was not really suitable for families and we wanted to give people more privacy.

“This means we will lose two units in the larger part of the hostel, going from 12 to 10, but we have been focusing more on prevention of homelessness and giving better quality accommodation rather than quantity.”

The hostel will still feature shared living and kitchen areas, with private bedroom and bathrooms.

Ms Pybus added: “We were awarded the MoD grant because we could show that we help both people with a military connection and the local community, as often service personnel and veterans want to stay in the area with their families and we help them if they fall into difficulty.”

Other plans yet to be completed include windows and external doors being replaced with double glazed units, solar panels, and the playground to be extended and improved.

Councillor Peter Wood, member for housing, said: “Richmondshire District Council is proud of the housing options service we provide and continue to strive to develop this facility.

“This grant gives us the opportunity to re-educate and re-brand George Nickling House - and steer away from the stigma attached to residing in a homeless person’s hostel.”

Anyone who needs advice about homelessness in Richmondshire can contact the housing options team via richmondshire.gov.uk/housing/homelessness