A new homeless hub in Newcastle-under-Lyme will only be allowed to operate for a year before it is reviewed – after dozens of residents raised concerns over anti-social behaviour.

Newcastle Borough Council secured planning permission for the facility at International House, a disused office building just outside the town centre, which will include accommodation for up to 12 homeless people and a drop-in centre open during weekdays.

But members of the authority's planning committee voted to place a 12-month time limit on the permission, meaning a fresh application will be required to keep the facility open beyond this period. Councillors said that this would allow them to see if residents' fears over crime and anti-social behaviour proved to be justified.

Committee members had previously put off making a decision on the plans so that further information could be provided. The proposed hub, on Stubbs Gate, will replace existing short-term accommodation in Merrial Street and homelessness services currently provided at the Salvation Army in Bridge Street.

International House is surrounded by homes, and 36 residents objected to the plans, saying it would lead to an increase in crime and anti-social behaviour on their doorstep. Resident Derek Cooper addressed the committee on behalf of the objectors, saying the planned homeless hub threatened their 'safety, privacy and overall wellbeing'.

He said: "The fortress-like design of the building and security measures indicate that trouble if anticipated. This shows that crime is likely, yet the documents, including the police report, don't provide any data on crime in the current or proposed surrounding areas – only inside the current hubs, leaving us all with unanswered questions.

The new facility will replace short-term accommodation on Merrial Street (Google).

"We're already dealing with high levels of anti-social behaviour nearby – are these problems now going to be brought to Stubbs Gate too?"

Mr Cooper said it was 'unclear' how service users would be managed when security staff are not present. He added that the location was 'entirely unsuitable' for the homeless hub.

At the current homeless shelter in Merrial Street, five incidents have been reported to the police over the past two years, including three incidents of anti-social behaviour. Over this period, a total of 23 individuals have used the night shelter, with 11 of these moving on to long-term accommodation.

Chief Inspector Darren McGrath told the committee that Staffordshire Police were 'neutral' in terms of the application, but would seek to work closely with staff at the homeless hub if it went ahead. He said: "We would want to have regular contact and an office inside the building that officers and PCSOs can use use on a daily basis. I'd encourage our town centre officers to have daily contact with the hub. The individuals using the facility would be well known to us."

The borough council will spend £955,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund on the homeless hub, which will include 12 bedrooms of supported accommodation, and a drop-in centre open for two hours a day. According to the application, there will be two staff on duty at any one time, a security guard working at night.

Krestal Al-Daami, homelessness and rough sleeper lead at the borough council, said that homeless people would have to be referred to access the accommodation, and would have to have a local connection to Newcastle. She also told the committee that staff would have a 'zero tolerance' approach to anti-social behaviour, and that people under the influence of drugs or alcohol could be refused entry.

But a number of committee members still had concerns with the potential for problems outside the building, which would be difficult for staff to control.

Councillor John Williams said: "My concerns is what happens outside. I visited two homeless hubs in the city. One was horrendous outside, but the other one was quiet, with no problems whatsoever. We haven't got a crystal ball, we don't know what it's going to be like. This should have gone to scrutiny committee. We just don't know what is going to happen."

Ms Al-Daami suggested that potential troublemakers would soon give up once they realised they would not be able to access the building.

Councillor Mark Holland proposed that approving the application with a 12-month time limit would be the best way forward. He said: "If this causes problems, I would not want to see it perpetuated. This is extremely serious for residents, and I know members have received a huge amount of reassurance tonight."

The committee also agreed to conditions relating to external lighting and obscure glazing for two new windows.

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