Bedu as homeless hostel operator
All our hostels operate a voluntary policy that give priority to local homeless persons. We do this by offering any available rooms to the home borough and only if it is not needed that day will it be offered to other boroughs. Our hostels benefit from:
24 hours reception;
Internal and external CCTV cover;
In house maintenance;
In house house-keeping;
Secure door entry systems;
Experienced management team;
Team trained to sign post residents to the relevant agencies such as AA, Mind etc.
We have exceptional staff retention and customer satisfaction records.
We have owned and operated homeless hostels since 1999. Our proactive style of management is demonstrated by the low rate of crime in our hostels. Freedom of information requests to the Metropolitan Police*1 show that our hostels are significantly safer than other leading charity-operated hostels despite them being paid additional subsidies to support their residents. When compared our hostels have 1/2 the rate of violent crime, 1/3rd the rate of ASB and less than 1/6th the rate of sexual offences.
Recently, our response to Covid-19 has again demonstrated how our company’s pro-active approach is able to deal with any challenges. From our 400 residents, we have had 4 suspected cases of Covid-19 (untested), all of which were successfully contained. We were the first in this sector to introduce bio-security measures.
Bedu as Developer
In addition to being a hostel operator, we have delivered 200 apartments on our own land in award-winning residential projects across London and the South East. These were marketed exclusively to first time buyers.
We have a hands-on approach to construction and a passion for affordable good design. We frequently run architectural competitions either ourselves or in conjunction with the RIBA. Our competitions aim to promote dignified design that values how a building feels to live in.
Being a hands-on developer and operator of hostel accommodation puts us in a unique position of being able to genuinely understand our residents’ needs and to work with talented award-winning architects in delivering this muchneeded housing type.
PREWETTS MILL, HORSHAM
In 2016, bedü ran a design competition for the conversion and extension of this former mill to create a collection of lateral and duplex apartments. The winning submission from Takero Shimazaki added two storeys, new cladding and balconies. The development created 59 apartments aimed at first time buyers. The land was purchased in cash without debt finance. Permission was granted in January 2017 and implemented immediately. The building was occupied in December 2018. Construction of this highly technical building was managed directly by bedü, and built with a combination of subcontractors and our own labour.
PRINTWORKS, LB SUTTON
In 2016, bedü completed the conversion of the former Guardian Newspaper offices into 79 residential apartments. Working again with Takero Shimazaki architects, this site was also bought and developed with our own private capital. Permission has been granted for a roof extension of an additional 9 duplex apartments, currently at stage 4.