A MOVE by a charity to build social housing as part of a move to build a stronger Christian community in Tolladine has been given the green light by the council.

Tolladine Mission, a charity formed to meet “spiritual and housing needs” in parts of Worcester, had asked for permission ‘in principle’ from Worcester City Council to build three self-contained ‘eco-friendly pods’ on church land off Tolladine Road.

The two one-bed and one two-bed ‘pods’ would be rented to vulnerable tenants and sustainably built to make them easy to heat and as cheap as possible to run.

A further planning application with more details about the ‘pods’ – including size and appearance – would have to be submitted and approved before building could take place.

The charity said the rent would eventually help pay for more social housing, as well as contribute to funding the mission’s work across Tolladine.

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“We aim to have a mission community in Tolladine that will energise and motivate the people of Tolladine as a call to action for the people,” the mission’s website said.

“Our vision is for a self-funding model where missioners work part-time for the mission in return for accommodation, but also work part-time elsewhere.

“The mission will be partly funded by the provision of social supported housing.

The charity already works with the Diocese of Worcester at St Barnabas Church off Astwood Road, St Wulstan’s Church, in Cranham Drive, and St Nicholas Church in Warndon.

The diocese has leased 214 Tolladine Road to the charity for 15 years and talks are ongoing over buying a large part of the garden to divide for the new social housing.

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The charity is also looking at some of the city’s training facilities, such as Transition Worcester and the Building Block at Worcester Community Trust, to help build and decorate the new pods with the hope that future residents can eventually pitch in with constructing their new homes.

A statement included with the application said: “We are looking to build to a high specification using sustainable products and modern practice to ensure that the running cost for the new units is as minimal as possible.

“The units will be fabricated off-site and finished on-site.

“They will be accessible, easy to heat, maintain and will provide long-term housing for those who need it most.