A LONGSTANDING hostel in Winchester is set to be closed and residents dispersed at three sheltered housing schemes across the city.

Barnes House in St Cross Road has been run as a ten-bedroom hostel for some 20 years, currently by Stonham Housing Association.

Stonham has told the city council that the building is no longer suitable and it seeking new premises.

The council has identified three sheltered housing schemes as possible locations: the ex-manager's homes at Mildmay Court, on Eastgate Street, Firmstone Road and Colson Close, both in Winnall.

Also four additional one-bedroom flats, currently aimed at the elderly but which have low demand, also be leased to Stonham.

Stonham has leased Barnes House to provide homes for "tenants who require additional support to maintain their tenancies" according to a city council report.

The report says Stonham has been using managers' flats at Hyde Gate and Penton Place, Highcliffe with no impact on sheltered residents.

Stonham says the new homes offer a more domestic than hostel environment, although the tenants would receive appropriate support.

The managers' flats have become available in recent years because of a contentious change to how sheltered housing is managed. There are fewer 'live-in' managers in many housing schemes.

Barnes House, a large detached property in upmarket St Cross, could be the next property to be sold by the city council.

The Winchester tenants' group TACT supports the proposal.