Babergh and neighbouring Mid Suffolk councils could buy up to 60 new homes as homelessness relief for struggling residents.

Councillors from both authorities will discuss buying the properties, equally split across both districts, during their respective cabinet meetings on Tuesday (5 August).

Their reports say buying the properties could reduce their reliance on bed and breakfast and hotel accommodation, which is 'increasingly untenable' as a result of spiralling costs.

The move is part of a wider, systemic transformation of the service, which often places households out of district, disrupts education and employment and can fail to meet acceptable standards.

It comes amid rising demand for temporary accommodation, with Mid Suffolk's need nearly doubling between the 2020/21 financial year and 2024/25, while Babergh has seen need increase by 69 per cent.

As of March, both authorities supported 158 households with temporary accommodation, spending a combined £70,101 each month in B&Bs and hotels.

Each new home would be assessed on a case-by-case basis but could be bought from developers, the market, or even transferred from the council's own Housing Revenue Account (HRA) stock.

Mid Suffolk has £2 million set aside as part of its capital ambitions programme, as well as £951,000 from the Local Authority Housing Fund, which papers said would be spent first.

Babergh has just over £1 million from the Fund to spend, with further revenue impacts to be monitored.