The city's first shipping containers set to be used as houses will arrive in Brighton on Monday.

The converted containers will provide temporary homes for 36 men and women with a history of homelessness.

Developers QED Estates Ltd and housing charity Brighton Housing Trust are behind the scheme, which will be located in New England Road behind where the Cobbler's Thumb used to stand.

The plot, known as Richardson's Yard, is currently used as a car park.

Ross Gilbert from QED said: “We expect residents to be moving in about 5 weeks after the arrival of the first container on site and turn this exciting and innovative housing concept into reality.

“Our temporary use of land earmarked for future regeneration demonstrates just what can be done in the interim to help solve the acute housing shortage.”

BHT Chief Executive, Andy Winter, said: “This is an exciting moment in this project to provide 36 new homes for men and women in housing need.

“We have identified 21 of the first 36 residents and they are being prepared to move into their new homes.

“The residents will have completed one of BHT's programme for change and will free up space in other services that will be able to take in men and women who are currently on the streets.”

The radical step of housing people in converted shipping containers was taken in a bid to ease the huge burden on housing in the city and the rise in homelessness.

According to the housing trust, the number of street homeless people in the Brighton and Hove has increased from 37 in November 2011 to 43 in November 2012 - but it is believed the true figure could be almost double that.

The containers have made their way from the Netherlands and more recently have been stored at Tilbury while the site in Brighton is prepared.

They will be fitted with solar panels on the roofs and will have gardens.