New Thanet RISE Hub welcomes its first clients

The first clients have moved into Thanet District Council’s brand new RISE Hub in Grosvenor Place, Margate.

The facility provides accommodation for people sleeping rough in the district who urgently need somewhere safe to live. The council-owned building has been fully refurbished, with eight bedrooms, shared shower rooms and kitchen and a communal space. 

Alongside providing living accommodation, the building is also the new headquarters for the multi-agency Thanet RISE team. The team, established in 2018, provides targeted support for rough sleepers across the district. Members of staff will be on site 24 hours a day, to manage the hub, and signpost clients to key services. 

The Hub offers specialist services in one location, including key workers who support clients sleeping on the streets and in accommodation, drug and alcohol workers from Forward Trust and the Department of Work and Pensions’ work coach.

The building has been completely renovated to meet high environmental standards, achieving an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) A rating. Energy-efficient measures include an air source heat pump, double glazed windows as well as solar panels on the roof. These measures will help reduce ongoing running costs along with the Hub’s impact on the environment, in line with council policy. 

Changes to the exterior include new windows, a laundry room and bike store. There is a newly constructed ramp to ensure access for people with limited mobility and inside, a fully accessible shower room.

The extensive design and planning phase included a community drop-in session in May 2025, where local residents were invited to view site proposals, share feedback, and discuss plans directly with the project delivery and RISE teams. Community engagement continued at key intervals during construction, including project handover. 

Cllr Helen Whitehead, Cabinet Member for Housing at Thanet District Council, said: “This is Thanet’s first multi-agency rough sleeping centre, providing housing and support throughout the year for those who need it. Bringing this into being has been an absolute priority, and welcoming our first clients into the new RISE building is meaningful beyond words. Everyone deserves a safe, warm, and secure place to live, and the RISE centre will provide people with the stable foundation they need to rebuild their lives and access essential support services.  

“It is our job as a council and as a community to care for our most vulnerable residents, and the work that has gone into the design of this building ensures that we are continuing our commitment to accessibility and sustainability through high-efficiency design.

“I could not be more proud of everyone that has worked to make this a reality and those in the Thanet and Margate community who support and champion this initiative.”

Following the initial move-in phase, full operational activities and wrap-around support services will continue to expand from the Grosvenor Place headquarters.  

The council is also proposing to refurbish an underused building next door to the RISE Hub into 11 self-contained flats for people in urgent need of somewhere safe to live. The planning application was submitted in June 2026. If approved, work could start on site in Spring 2027, with residents moving in from Spring 2028.

Further information about RISE and local services for rough sleepers is available on the council’s website.