Caring community: Geoffrey Osborne, the housebuilder, has started a £2m project to convert a grade I-listed building in Maidstone, Kent, into accommodation and daycare facilities for homeless people.

English Churches Housing Group will run the hostel on Knightrider Street and Maidstone Christian Care will run the adjoining day centre. Osborne has also been given planning permission to create 46 units including 30 bed spaces for single homeless people and a six-bed facility for homeless families on the site.