Stories, a property development company focused on socially responsible outcomes, has announced its submission of a joint planning application with leading British charity St Mungo’s – for a new state-of-the-art facility which will support people experiencing homelessness in Westminster.
The environmentally sustainable scheme has been designed by London-based architecture practice Allford Hall Monaghan Morris, working alongside St Mungo’s staff and clients. The new St Mungo’s centre will be paid for through the release of part of the site for a mixed-use, residential-led development – including 94 Build to Rent homes with both market-rate and discount market rent tenures.
This will secure St Mungo’s future on the site and support it in continuing to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in the London borough – which according to a report from the Greater London Authority – is home to the largest number of rough sleepers.
The new £50m development is located to the north of the borough – and is the first of its kind for the socially-minded newcomer development company. Plans for the St Mungo’s facility will provide self-contained units, mid-term accommodation, health, wellbeing, and employment services and intensive support for those that need it. It uses St Mungo’s Psychologically Informed Environments design principles that deliver a variety of different environments where clients can be comfortable, and which promote wellbeing to support them as they recover from homelessness.
Stories sets itself apart from its competitors through its focus on creating developments that deliver positive environmental, social and economic impacts. The developer was founded in 2018 by Richard Meier, who was previously a Partner at Argent, James Scott, the former Chief Operating Officer at The Collective, and Paul Clark, the Former Head of Development at GL Hearn, part of Capita Plc.
“We’re proud to be working with St Mungo’s, an organisation whose work we have long admired here at Stories. Their outreach delivers an essential service when it comes to providing the people of London who are homeless with the support they need and helping them to move into longer-term accommodation.
“In line with our commitment to improving people’s lives through the built environment, this development marks a crucial addition to one of the London boroughs most deeply affected by homelessness. Through projects like these, we’re hoping to carve out a new era for development projects where delivering long-term social returns takes precedence over short-term gains.”
Richard Meier, Co-founder and Chief Executive, Stories
