SLEEPER pods for the homeless could be built in two car parks as a first step to getting rough sleepers off the street.

Ron Woodley, deputy leader of Southend Council, put forward the plan which would give the homeless self-contained overnight accommodation and washing facilities in two car parks in the borough.

Pitmans Close car park and London Road North car park, where the pods would be based, has around 16-24 spaces.

Separate plans for single-bedroom accommodation to be built on the site of garages in Juniper Road, Leigh was also being debated at Tuesday’s cabinet meeting.

The Salvation Army and the Hill Foundation’s plans with the council to build up to eight modular homes on the underused garage site were welcomed by the cabinet.

In addition, Mr Woodley said the sleeper pods could provide a first step off the streets.

He said: “I would like to see what we could do about rough sleeper pods in our two small car parks which I think only hold about 16-24 spaces between the two of them.

“I’d like to see what we can do help rough sleepers get comfortable overnight and somewhere to change and shave and keep themselves clean and that could be a stepping stone from there into these homes?

“The small car parks could be ideal for the sleepers pods and that’s the start of getting these very vulnerable people into somewhere safe to sleep at night.”

Land in Juniper Road could be leased to Southend Salvation Army. They would be donated and constructed by Foundation 200, which selected Southend as one of the authorities to benefit from the donation of up to eight, one-bedroom homes.

Ian Gilbert, leader of the council, said: “An enormous amount of work has gone into rough sleeping and people needing accommodation in the town but what we now need are options to allow people to move into more settled accommodation where they can still have a low to moderate level of support.

“This partnership allows us to provide that using those charitable foundations. It’s a very positive step.”