No Use Empty provided a 3 year interest free loan of £175,000 contributing to Phase 2 of the project. The overall project costs are in the region of £1M and the transformation of a once wasted resource in a prominent position is a must see.
This is a Grade II listed semi-detached property of traditional construction, over 100 years old, comprising three stories with a basement. The property has a small front area, but comes with a large rear garden which will be available to tenants. To retain the character of the building, some of the original features have been recreated with moulds taken from original fixtures. It is in a prominent position on a main road within walking distance of local shops, close to town centre and public transport services
Following the closure of the former Youth Hostel, the property remained empty for several years and became a magnet for vandals, used as a dumping ground by fly tippers and became a haunt for drug addicts. The new owners Vernon Investments Limited were granted planning permission for the change of use and conversion to 9 self-contained flats, which are now being marketed for rent with agents Geerings&Colyer, with three already reserved.
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The property is also of historic interest. From 1890 to 1960 the property belonged to the Koettlitz family and was used as a surgery. The Polar Bear, fitted with a lamp holder in its paw which now resides in Dover Museum, once stood in the London Road surgery and was gifted to the museum by a relative of Reginald Koettlitz who spent 3 years in the Arctic.
