Hungerford's Care Home Faces Controversial Hostel Plans

Plans to turn the former care home on Chestnut Walk in Hungerford into temporary supported accommodation are now in public consultation with West Berkshire Council.

Locals say the hostel is not needed and will cause more crime, antisocial behaviour, noise, parking pressure and drug use.

The council says demand for homeless accommodation has risen - the number of households in temporary accommodation went from 100 to 163 over the last year.

Chestnut Walk is a council-owned building at 15 Chestnut Walk that closed in 2017 and has been vacant, suffering vandalism, break-ins and fire damage. The council says refurbishing it will improve security and reuse the asset.

It would be refurbished, not expanded, and provide 12 bedrooms with flexibility to form multi-room family units as needed.

The accommodation would be for West Berkshire households in immediate housing need - individuals, couples and families - while longer-term housing is found. It is not intended as permanent housing and would include housing-related support, clear management and security.

The council opened Walnut Close in Thatcham in early 2025 as its first council-run Temporary Supported Accommodation, for up to 24 families.

"While Walnut Close has significantly reduced the council's reliance on bed and breakfast and hotel placements, there remains a substantial gap in provision," says the council.

"Chestnut Walk would play a critical role in addressing this unmet need and would operate on the same proven model as Walnut Close, with housing-related support, clear day-to-day management, appropriate security arrangements, and a focus on helping residents move on to settled accommodation."

The consultation runs until 8 August 2026. A Q&A session is on Thursday 3 September 2026, 6pm-8pm at Hungerford Youth and Community Centre, Priory Road, Hungerford RG17 0AL. Councillor Denise Gaines and Nick Caprara, the council's Service Lead for Housing, will outline key themes and how feedback is shaping the project.

Niki Hinman, Local Democracy Reporter