A housing association which will house a dozen vulnerable adults in a flats complex on a Carlisle street has insisted they will be good neighbours.

My Space Housing now has the lease for the former Ukranian Club in Silloth Street.

The property is being converted into 12 one-bedroom apartments, which will be rented to vulnerable adults, potentially including some who are battling mental health problems, or a learning disability, or with complex needs such as past illegal drug use.

Officials from the charity insist tenants will be risk-assessed, and nobody unsuitable will be housed. The reaction among Silloth Street residents was mixed.

“It’s not the right place,” said Carl Wood, 65. “This is a residential street, and people look out for each other.

“There are people who are retired, and children. These people may have been excluded from society, especially if they were [drug addicts].”

Bob Low, 66, a Silloth Street resident for 40 years, said: “We’ve been told they’re not going to bring in people who are sex offenders, or who have problems with drugs. I don’t mind if it’s people with disabilities, or people who need assistance - as long as we don’t get drug addicts, sex offenders, or jail birds.”

My Space Housing said the development would provide high-quality homes for people various vulnerabilities, who need support to maintain a tenancy.

The charity has worked closely with Carlisle City Council to allocate tenants, who are thoroughly assessed to ensure they are a suitable. “We have worked with the council for two years and already house over 50 adults in the borough,” said a statement.

Tenants, moving in from May, will be supported by a full-time worker.

Tenancies are allocated with an “emphasis on safety and security”.

“This means that vulnerable people can live in good homes – with the support they need to integrate into communities and move towards living independently.”

Referrals come from various places, including Social Services, Probation, and voluntary organisations.

There will be no sex offenders.

Gill Cook, My Space Housing’s Head of Operations, said former offenders may be tenants but they would not be housed in Silloth Street if deemed a risk to the community. “We wouldn’t house somebody who would create chaotic problems for the community,” she said.

The association’s tenancy agreement forbids illegal activity - including drug use.

She added: “We want our scheme to be a part of that community. We absolutely don’t want to create issues. We are all about inspiring change and creating meaningful opportunities for people. We manage risk before we move them in.”