Latest news from No Use Empty property initiative

Westbrook House, Folkestone – 8 new homes available now for rent

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Former school building: Westbrook House, Shorncliffe Road, Folkestone returned to use

Thanks to a combination of private funds and loans from NUE (an interest free loan, a top up loan from Folkestone and Hythe district council and an interest bearing loan), a local family owned company acquired the property in 2017 and have transformed the former school building which closed in 2008 and remained empty whilst a number of planning proposals came and went.

The property was a magnet for anti-social behaviour. But now in just under a year this building has been restored to a very high specification offering contemporary living combined with many original features.

A total of 8 apartments are now available each one benefits from gas central heating and has one allocate car parking space.

For example the two bedroom apartment offers a modern fitted kitchen, open plan living, French doors leading to garden, master bedroom with en-suite and a second bedroom with en-suite.

This stunning executive style apartment is conveniently located close to Folkestone West Station and its high speed rail links to London and M20 connections.

The apartments are being marketed for rent and further details can be found on the  Motis Estate  website.

All funds loaned under NUE have already been repaid and the local developer is on the look out for a new project and is keen to work with NUE again ensuring his team are kept busy and able to provide work opportunities.

Watch the NUE Promotional video which includes footage of this project and an interview with the local developer and our wider regeneration work in Folkestone.

 

 

 

Latest Property Restored – Lynton Parade, Edgar Road, Cliftonville

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Lynton Parade, Edgar Road, Cliftonville

This property had been empty for 5 years before the new owners took on the challenge to bring the property back into use with the support of No Use Empty.

Located in the heart of Cliftonville, Margate, the property now provides 4 modern apartments.

If you are looking for your first home, then one of the apartments has just come onto the market.

Neutrally decorated throughout it’s ready for you to put your own stamp on it.

 

For more details contact Oakwood Homes

Property includes:

  • * 3 Bedrooms including en-suite shower room with master bedroom
  • * 2 Bathrooms
  • * Fully Double Glazed
  • * Full Gas Central Heating
  •    Share of Freehold

Edgar Road – 5 Years Ago. The entire parade has now been regenerated and former empty properties are now back into use and ready for occupation.

Community Housing and Self Build Conference 28th June 2018

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Dover District Council are hosting the 2018 Community Housing and Self-Build Conference on the 28th June 2018 from 1.30pm to 5pm at Innovation House, Discovery Park, Sandwich.

The conference will bring together community groups, land owners, developers, consultants and Community Housing and Self-Build experts.

All who are interested in delivering Community Led Housing in the Dover District are very welcome to attend this free event which includes workshops, Q+A sessions, exhibitions and a chance to network.

To book your place go to: https://bookwhen.com/communityevents

No Use Empty will also have a stand where you can enquire about our empty property loan scheme.

 

 

 

 

UK Housing Awards Winners

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Celebrating success – the winners all gathered    at the end of the ceremony for a group photo

No Use Empty (NUE) scooped the award for ‘Outstanding approach to regeneration’ at the UK Housing Awards event at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in central London.

The UK Housing Awards, run by Inside Housing and the Chartered Institute of Housing, is the largest and longest running awards in the sector and is now in its third decade.

Steve Grimshaw, NUE Programme Manager and Jackie Gibb, NUE Project Officer were joined by colleagues Stuart White (Dover), Iain Cobby (Folkestone & Hythe),  and Simon Doherty (Gravesham) to collect the award.

Our congratulations go to all those who entered. For more details visit Inside Housing.

Mark Dance, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, KCC said “An incredible achievement! A huge thank you from me on your win as you know I am a great fan of NUE”.

Steve Grimshaw, NUE Programme Manager said “To receive such a prestigious national award for bringing long term empty properties back into use was a huge surprise given the competition. Well done to all those who work in partnership with NUE”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the love of architecture

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Sensitive and passionate about Margate’s precious architectural heritage.

Read this feature to find out how this empty unloved crumbling property in Princes Street was brought back into use.

“I’d always rather repair than replace,” Sam Causer says. “That way you can enjoy and live in these buildings because they have the passage of time embedded in them.”

Bun Penny, Herne Bay

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Iconic Herne Bay Bun Penny site returned to use

The Herne Bay site was previously home to the iconic Bun Penny Pub, which opened in 1899 when the pub was called the Royal Hotel. It changed name in 1972 and closed in 2011 after a devastating fire left it in a state of disrepair.

The property, which sits on the sea front, was a major eyesore to the area; its redevelopment has substantially enhanced the local sea front.

The revived Bun Penny site now comprises of a mixed use scheme made up of 14 two and three bedroom luxury apartments and a commercial unit on the ground floor.

The development has been completed to a high specification with a contemporary feel. 13 apartments have balconies and all the apartments have parking.

Kent County Council’s NUE scheme provided funding of £175,000 which was leveraged by private sector funding of £2,325,000, bringing total investment of the redevelopment project £2.5 million highest value project to date.

The apartments are being marketed for sale and further details can be found on the Right Move website.

Watch the NUE Promotional video which showcases our wider regeneration work in Herne Bay.

 

 

 

Dover District Council Confirms £300k for NUE

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No Use Empty, the UK’s most successful empty homes initiative, sees £300,000 pledge from Dover District Council-

Award winning empty homes scheme, No Use Empty (NUE), has received a commitment of £300,000 from Dover District Council to provide top-up loans to help bring long-term empties back into use.

The pioneering scheme introduced top-up loans in 2015 and has since seen further pledges totalling £800,000 from Shepway, Tunbridge Wells, and now Dover.

The top-up loans are indicative of the success of the scheme and the importance of collaboration between local authorities.

The top-up loans will be used to support the current £4 million county wide NUE investment that has been allocated for the return of long-term empty housing stock to use and will be targeted at the wards of Castle, Maxton and Elms Vale, and Tower Hamlets.

An additional £15,000 will be added to the NUE empty loan making a total of £40,000 per unit available to unlock developments in those wards. All loans are secured and repayable after 3 years.

Steve Grimshaw, Programme Manager for No Use Empty at Kent County Council said: “No Use Empty is continually innovating to try and find the best ways to bring long-term empty homes back into use. The top-up loans are an illustration of this, and we are very encouraged to see Dover allocate a significant £300,000 to help create homes.  Currently we are seeing the Government call for commitments to provide housing for first time buyers, with NUE top-up loans we are able to provide another route to access larger scale schemes, delivering much needed housing and regeneration in Kent.”

Cllr Pauline Beresford for Dover District Council, said: “We have been part of the No Use Empty scheme since it was founded over 10 years ago, and are very happy to reaffirm our commitment to the successful scheme through the top-up loans. Bringing long-term empty homes back into use is a key method of driving regeneration, one which not only provides new homes but also new sources of employment and a sense of community. Dover District has a wide range of regeneration taking place and delivering homes is a fundamental part of that wider ongoing plan.”

 

Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Pledges £100k to Empty Homes Scheme

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 Tunbridge Wells Borough Council pledges £100,000 to No Use Empty

Award winning empty homes scheme, No Use Empty (NUE), has received a commitment of £100,000 from Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to provide top-up loans to help bring long-term empties back into use.

The pioneering scheme introduced top-up loans in 2015 and has since seen further pledges totalling £800,000 from Shepway, Dover and now Tunbridge Wells.

The top-up loans are indicative of the success of the scheme and the importance of collaboration between local authorities.

The top-up loans will be used to support the current £4 million NUE investment that has been allocated for the return of long-term empty housing stock to use.

An additional £15,000 will be added to the NUE empty loan making a total of £40,000 per unit available to unlock developments in those wards. All loans are secured and repayable after 3 years.

Councillor Lynne Weatherly, Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s  Cabinet member with responsibility for Communities and Wellbeing , said: “The No Use Empty initiative has been a great success. We’ve seen dilapidated properties and long-term empty houses brought back into use, this is a good way of increasing available homes and improving the street scene for neighbours where a property has become an eyesore.”

Steve Grimshaw, Programme Manager for No Use Empty at Kent County Council said: “No Use Empty is continually innovating to try and find the best ways to bring long-term empty homes back into use. The top-up loans are an illustration of this, and we are very encouraged to see Tunbridge Wells allocate additional funds of £100,000 to help create homes.  Currently we are seeing the Government call for commitments to provide housing for first time buyers, with NUE top-up loans we are able to provide another route to access larger scale schemes, delivering much needed housing and regeneration in Kent.”

 

NUE celebrating National Empty Homes Week

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National Empty Homes Week 2017

National Empty Homes Week will take place from Monday 16th October to 22nd October.

Every year local authorities, housing providers, community-led organisations and others see Empty Homes Week as an opportunity to organise events and put out information so that people know about their work to tackle empty homes.  Empty Homes Week is also the chance to celebrate successes and reflect on what more needs to be done to bring empty properties back into use to help meet housing needs.

If you are interested in sponsoring the week’s activities please contact the national campaigning charity on [email protected] for more information.

NUE will be updating our website with new case studies featuring our most recent projects.

 

Since its inception in 2005, NUE has grown to incorporate all 12 district councils and four West of England Councils including Bristol City Council as well as providing a template for the Welsh Government’s empty homes schemes “Houses Into Homes”.

We have recently achieved our ambition of returning more than 5,000 empty properties back into use across Kent.

NUE Looking Ahead

We will shortly be announcing news on additional financial support available following the success of our Top Up Loan scheme with Shepway District Council.

Demand for our loan products remain high with a growing list of potential projects.

We continue to work with our partners and seek out opportunities to bring long term empty properties back into use as residential accommodation.

 

A new home in Wingham

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With the assistance from a NUE loan this project has recently been completed in the village of Wingham. The owner has restored this circa 18th century mid terrace home to include many of the original features and has been renovated to a high standard. The accommodation comprises of the lounge with a feature fireplace, modern fitted kitchen, spacious bedroom, family bathroom with claw foot roll top bath and separate shower. To the rear for the property is a well-proportioned garden with a decked seating area and lawn.

The property is now for sale. Details can be found at Miles and Barr