{"id":474910,"date":"2026-03-27T18:49:42","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T18:49:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/?p=474910"},"modified":"2026-03-27T18:49:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T18:49:45","slug":"homes-built-for-rough-sleepers-in-bermondsey-remain-empty-two-months-after-grand-opening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/bermondsey\/homes-built-for-rough-sleepers-in-bermondsey-remain-empty-two-months-after-grand-opening\/","title":{"rendered":"Homes built for rough sleepers in Bermondsey remain empty two months after grand opening"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Eight modular homes installed on a Bermondsey council estate to provide temporary accommodation for rough sleepers have remained empty two months after opening, <em>write<\/em>s <em>Rich Brann<\/em>&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The delay, according to Southwark Council, is down to Thames Water not connecting them to the water supply, with the company who built the homes saying trying to get a date from them  &#8220;has been like pulling teeth.&#8221;<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"69959\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448384\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">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<\/script>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-tiktok wp-block-embed-tiktok\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"Jpw3lPMv6dtjKZSUnXE2TByAYzxmshCQcVDiFIb7qgNo5e10L\"><blockquote class=\"tiktok-embed\" cite=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@southwarknews\/video\/7622001788622785814\" data-video-id=\"7622001788622785814\" data-embed-from=\"oembed\" style=\"max-width:605px; min-width:325px;\"> <section> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"@southwarknews\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@southwarknews?refer=embed\">@southwarknews<\/a> <p>Two months on\u2026 and still empty? Southwark\u2019s new Solohaus modular are sitting unused after water connection delays.  Hill Group and Southwark council point to Thames Water, while thousands remain on the waiting list. A spokesman for Hill Partnerships said: \u201cIt\u2019s really not what we expected at all\u2026and it\u2019s not the first time we\u2019ve had this problem with Thames Water\u2026Trying to get a date (for installation) has been like pulling teeth.\u201d Thames Water were approached for comment.  <a title=\"housingcrisis\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/housingcrisis?refer=embed\">#housingcrisis<\/a> <a title=\"london\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/london?refer=embed\">#london<\/a> <a title=\"modularhomes\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/modularhomes?refer=embed\">#modularhomes<\/a> <a title=\"southwark\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/southwark?refer=embed\">#southwark<\/a> <a title=\"homeless\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/tag\/homeless?refer=embed\">#homeless<\/a><\/p> <a target=\"_blank\" title=\"? original sound - Southwark News\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/music\/original-sound-7622001793610156822?refer=embed\">? original sound &#8211; Southwark News<\/a> <\/section> <\/blockquote> <script async src=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"760\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes2-2-760x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-471761\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes2-2-760x560.jpg 760w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes2-2-380x280.jpg 380w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes2-2-768x566.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes2-2-198x146.jpg 198w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes2-2-750x553.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes2-2.jpg 973w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 760px) 100vw, 760px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes4-750x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-469370\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes4-750x560.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes4-375x280.jpg 375w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes4-768x573.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes4-196x146.jpg 196w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes4.jpg 844w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The site in Bermondsey was once home to a set of garages Credit: The Hill Group<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"749\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes3-749x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-469369\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes3-749x560.jpg 749w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes3-375x280.jpg 375w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes3-768x574.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes3-195x146.jpg 195w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes3-750x561.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes3.jpg 955w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 749px) 100vw, 749px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A look inside one of the SoloHaus homes Credit: LDRS\/MyLondon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"747\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes1-747x560.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-469367\" srcset=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes1-747x560.jpg 747w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes1-373x280.jpg 373w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes1-195x146.jpg 195w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes1-1320x990.jpg 1320w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes1-750x563.jpg 750w, https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/modular-homes1-1140x855.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 747px) 100vw, 747px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cllr Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes &#038; Sustainable Development at Southwark Council Credit: LDRS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Hill Group handed over the eight Solohaus homes to Southwark Council in a grand ceremony in mid-January, with a press release at the time declaring that the innovative modular homes could be built and installed in as little as eight weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, when the <em>News <\/em>revisited the site two months later we were shocked to see that far being used by the homeless it had been returned to a construction site. <\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"68153\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448385\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMzQ3NDEyNzc5NiIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWNvbnRlbnQgc291dGgtZW50aXR5LXBsYWNlbWVudCIgc3R5bGU9Im1hcmdpbi1sZWZ0OiBhdXRvO21hcmdpbi1yaWdodDogYXV0bzt0ZXh0LWFsaWduOiBjZW50ZXI7Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtMngxIj4NCjxzY3JpcHQ+DQpnb29nbGV0YWcuY21kLnB1c2goZnVuY3Rpb24oKSB7IGdvb2dsZXRhZy5kaXNwbGF5KCdkaXYtZ3B0LWFkLTJ4MScpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICAgICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Our enquires to the council and the Hill Group saw both blame Thames Water for failing to inspect the site on Leroy Street, off Tower Bridge Road, and begin supplying water since the site\u2019s opening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A spokesman for the Hill Group said: \u201cIt\u2019s really not what we expected at all\u2026and it\u2019s not the first time we\u2019ve had this problem with Thames Water, it&#8217;s a problem that&#8217;s become notable over the last 18 months. Trying to get a date (for installation) has been like pulling teeth.\u201d<\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71156\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448386\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMTA4NzQ4MzEwOSIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1OSBzb3V0aC1lbnRpdHktcGxhY2VtZW50Ij48IS0tICAvMTU0NzI1MDcwLDIyNjk0MTk2OTY5L3NvdXRod2Fya25ld3Mvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cyAtLT4NCjxkaXYgaWQ9ImRpdi1ncHQtYWQtbXB1OSI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHU5Jyk7IH0pOw0KPC9zY3JpcHQ+DQo8L2Rpdj4gICAgIDwvZGl2Pg==<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Cllr Helen Dennis, Cabinet Member for New Homes and Sustainable Development, said: &#8220;The Solohaus housing project on Leroy Street is a brilliant scheme which we&#8217;re very excited to see completed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;There have been some delays in completion due to difficulties that Thames Water experienced in establishing a water connection&#8230;although Hill and Southwark have tried to accelerate the process as much as possible, it has not been within our control.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hill Group clarified that while it had been deeply regrettable to have had to wait an extra two months for Thames Water to complete the project\u2019s water supply, the company had proven more communicative over time and they hoped to see people move in very soon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Solohaus modular homes are designed and construction for off-site, with quick installation being key to their success in tackling the housing crisis. The whole process is said to take as little as eight weeks, and at the opening Southwark Council said that if the scheme was a success may lead to more being installed across the borough. <\/p><script type=\"text\/plain\" data-tcf=\"waiting-for-consent\" data-id=\"71157\" data-bid=\"1\" data-placement=\"448387\" data-no-track=\"impressions\">PGRpdiBpZD0ic291dGgtMjg2ODAwNjQyNyIgY2xhc3M9InNvdXRoLWluLWFydGljbGUtbXB1LTEwIHNvdXRoLWVudGl0eS1wbGFjZW1lbnQiPjwhLS0gIC8xNTQ3MjUwNzAsMjI2OTQxOTY5Njkvc291dGh3YXJrbmV3cy9zb3V0aHdhcmtuZXdzIC0tPg0KPGRpdiBpZD0iZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCI+DQo8c2NyaXB0Pg0KZ29vZ2xldGFnLmNtZC5wdXNoKGZ1bmN0aW9uKCkgeyBnb29nbGV0YWcuZGlzcGxheSgnZGl2LWdwdC1hZC1tcHUxMCcpOyB9KTsNCjwvc2NyaXB0Pg0KPC9kaXY+ICAgICA8L2Rpdj4=<\/script>\n\n\n\n<p>Once opened, the current scheme will support Southwark\u2019s efforts to house its homeless population, on top of rough sleepers  20,000 people currently on their waiting list for a council home and 4000 households are in temporary accommodation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hill Group and Southwark Council have both clarified that a meeting last week with Thames Water has helped establish that water supply to the homes will begin soon, though neither could yet confirm when the new opening date would be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thames Water declined to comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-wp-embed is-provider-southwark-news wp-block-embed-southwark-news\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"kYyHI6T0wzqG7EMcg1ROyV99jNjO2KkEUGotSNBeJD8ShBdliovHaQXWgKpdPbJUCsCFzqWifnYxpnv5s2P4atQcmrZ\"><blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"kSr2ulAGd9\"><a href=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/camberwell\/taxi-driver-gang-jailed-for-smuggling-illegal-migrants-out-of-the-uk\/\">Taxi driver gang sentenced for smuggling illegal migrants out of the UK<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Taxi driver gang sentenced for smuggling illegal migrants out of the UK&#8221; &#8212; Southwark News\" src=\"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/area\/camberwell\/taxi-driver-gang-jailed-for-smuggling-illegal-migrants-out-of-the-uk\/embed\/#?secret=xuYwu8KQUM#?secret=kSr2ulAGd9\" data-secret=\"kSr2ulAGd9\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Eight modular homes installed on a Bermondsey council estate to provide temporary accommodation for rough sleepers have remained empty two months after opening, writes Rich Brann&#8230; The delay, according to Southwark Council, is down to Thames Water not connecting them to the water supply, with the company who built the homes saying trying to get [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18769,"featured_media":474912,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"right-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"top","share_float_style":"share-monocrhome","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"Y\/m\/d","show_post_category":"1","show_post_reading_time":"0","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"0","zoom_button_out_step":"2","zoom_button_in_step":"3","show_post_tag":"1","show_prev_next_post":"1","show_popup_post":"1","show_comment_section":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_author_box":"1","show_inline_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"The homes, intended to support Southwark's homeless population, have been held back by problems with their water supply"},"jnews_primary_category":{"id":"65"},"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[65,13539,13549,13602,8341],"tags":[94,190,45,115],"class_list":["post-474910","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bermondsey","category-featured","category-housing","category-news","category-southwark","tag-homelessness","tag-housing","tag-southwark-council","tag-thames-water"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474910","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18769"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=474910"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474910\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":475504,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/474910\/revisions\/475504"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/474912"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=474910"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=474910"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/southwarknews.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=474910"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}