AN application for eight new emergency beds at James Lee House will not be withdrawn following two deferrals on a decision by planning chiefs.

The authority's development management committee was expected to approve plans for the Brick Street homeless hostel's chapel and meeting room to be converted into eight new overnight rooms at its meeting on November 29.

But a decision was deferred by councillors following fears that the beds could replace the Room at the Inn homeless shelter, on Winmarleigh Street.

And it was the same outcome at the committee's meeting on December 20 due to a 'lack of details'.

But applicant and site landlord Your Housing Group has confirmed it intends to continue with its application for the emergency beds.

A spokesman said: "As an organisation managing 28,000 homes across the north of England for people at all stages of life, Your Housing Group remains committed to the provision of supported housing.

"We aim to provide housing for all and to do this we must support the most vulnerable people in society.

"By working with expert agencies such as The Salvation Army, Your Housing Group can help give vulnerable people a sense of stability and belonging that a warm, safe place to live can provide."

The council-owned site is managed and run by The Salvation Army, which is commissioned by the authority to offer supported accommodation for homeless people.

A spokesman for the charitable organisation said: "The Salvation Army has a proven track record of providing support and accommodation for people experiencing homelessness across the country, and at our service in Warrington, James Lee House.

"We walk alongside service users and help them to achieve their goals, whatever they may be.

"We, like many other agencies in Warrington, are committed to the delivery of the town's homelessness strategy and action plan which was agreed in 2014-15.

"We therefore welcomed Warrington Borough Council and Your Housing Group's vision to improve the support in place for emergency beds.

"By providing eight emergency beds within James Lee House, service users will have access to the support and expertise of staff who can help them to end their cycle of homelessness.  

"This provision was proposed as a way of delivering the homelessness strategy of the town and this is something we are keen to support.

"It is an approach in line with our own research and experience.

"We believe that providing accommodation alone cannot help the break the cycle of homelessness.

"Instead, a personalised approach for each service user has a greater chance of succeeding.

"The new provision will give us the ability to work with individuals, to find out what obstacles they are facing and help them to overcome these.

"As we run James Lee House the new provision will benefit from our existing staff and facilities."

But Susan Blyth, centre manager at Room at the Inn and the Y Project, highlighted her concerns over the future of the homeless shelter.

She said: "Our shelter does not just provide night-time provision, it provides services in the day too.

"And without daytime services then you have to ask the question 'where will those people go in the day?'

"If they arrive in the evening, who will be there to ask them what sort of day they have had and who will be there to plan the next day with them?

"I have been disappointed with the co-operation from the council.

"I think it has created divisions in camps which has created a smokescreen.

"That has been very unhelpful for everyone.

"We are social advocates and, if there will be a different service to us, we want that to have proper standards.

"That is really what we have been standing up and shouting about and we will continue to do that.

"It would have an impact on people who really need those services.

"But, also, on the general public and other services that currently rely on us.

"There is not another service providing what we do at this moment in time and there doesn't seem to be any dialogue for that.

"However, we are not dead in the water and we will carry on.

"I believe there is room for more than one shoe shop in town."