|
There are currently almost a million empty properties in Britain - that’s almost 1 in 20 houses standing empty – a staggering statistic considering the shortage of available property on the market and rocketing demand. And 450,000 of them have been empty for more than 6 months. Britain’s Empty Homes aims to breathe life back into some of these empty properties by bringing them back into use, and reveals how they can be transformed into dream homes. One of the programmes in the last series featured Dee and David Fox who were looking for a rural residence now their children had left home. They wanted 2 or 3 bedrooms, plenty of land, and a workshop or outbuildings for Dave - all for their budget of £395,000 in the beautiful countryside of Gloucestershire. The first house presenter Jules Hudson found them was an empty house on the outskirts of the medieval town of Tewkesbury, with it’s twelfth century cathedral and beautifully preserved architecture. No one had been living in the house for almost a year and it was on the market for 350 thousand pounds, leaving David and Dee 45 grand from their budget for improvements. It had two bedrooms, a reception room and kitchen, plus 1 point 2 acres of land and a substantial shed – ideal for Dave’s workspace.
Packed with period character, it had a large reception room and kitchen, plus 4 bedrooms. The house was grade 2 listed so there were restrictions as to what could be done with it structurally. Neither of the properties turned out to be right for David and Dee, but the experience gave them some valuable insight into the process of buying and restoring an empty property. Jules’ tips to anyone considering an empty home are: “Let estate agents know exactly what you’re looking for and where and get them to tell you the moment these gems come on the market. Be prepared to act because if they’re in a desirable area they can sell fast. And look around your neighbourhood, if you spot somewhere and it’s on the local councils list of empty properties they may be willing to approach the owner on your behalf to see if they want to sell.” Ricochet Ltd, the independent television company produce Britain’s Empty Homes, is looking for people to take part in the new series. If you are currently house-hunting for your next home and would consider buying an empty property, or if you have successfully renovated a property, which was empty when you bought it which you would like to feature in the series, then the team at Ricochet would love to hear from you. If you would like to find out more about how you could take part, call 01273 224 820 or email: [email protected] (Standard geographic charges apply, calls from mobiles may be higher.)
|
-
Fires - Design Ideas
-
Benefits of being bespoke
-
Financing Your Extension/Remodel
-
Video: How To Unblock A Sink
-
Shower power
How-to Videos
Take a look at our how to videos for advice on DIY tasks
Company Listings
 Brookmans of Rickmansworth Ltd www.brookmans.co.uk Category: Planners & Furnishers |
New Digital Version Click the cover!
Grand Designs Live
Looking back
Who? Architect Jonathan Hendry, wife Katie and their two sons.
Where? Near Grimsby in Lincolnshire.
What? A radical reinvention of two former local authority homes into one dwelling.
How long? The first house was bought in 2001 and the second in 2003. Both were completed by Christmas 2004.
Budget? The first house cost £50,000 and £25,000 to refurbish. The second cost £89,000 and £140,000 in building costs. The Hendrys estimate the whole cost at £400,000.
High point? ‘When the two houses finally came together.’
Low point? ‘Not having any windows in the first house in the middle of November.’
Tip ‘Get a good architect – you won’t get the most out of a project without one.’
Looking back
Who? Peter and Christine Benjamin.
When? Planning was submitted in August 2004, permission obtained in November 2004, building completed in May 2006.
High point? ‘When the frame went up and we suddenly realised what an enormous amount
of glass there would be; there was an immediate sense of the amazing proportions of the whole house.'
Low point? ‘There was no low point; we enjoyed it all,' say Peter and Christine, although there was a moment of concern when they realised one Friday that they had forgotten to order scaffolding and the timber frame was due to be erected the next Monday. Luckily a local firm saved the day.
Planning
-
Always check with your local planning authority before undertaking works on your house. If your home is not listed and you don’t live in a conservation area, you are allowed a great deal of freedom when it comes to making superficial alterations to the appearance of the facade.
-
When you come to increase the volume of a house, there is also some freedom. Every house has permitted development rights, which allow a certain increase in volume – this will alter depending on the type of house, the distance from the boundary and the height of the extension.
-
If the house has previously been extended this could also have ‘used up’ your quota, so check with the local authority. So long as you stay within these permitted parameters, you shouldn’t need planning permission. If you extend beyond this, you will need planning, so don’t make any changes until you know where you stand.
-
Being in a conservation area can restrict what you’ll be able to do, though it doesn’t make a remodelling impossible. Find out whether there is an Article 4 notice in your area – this can take away certain elements of your permitted developments rights. It’s a good idea to find out from a conservation officer what they believe gives your conservation area its character, as these elements are the ones they are less likely to allow to be changed.
-
In a listed building it can be harder to make many changes, other than to repair where there is decay. The likelihood of changing the exterior dramatically is nil.
-
Remodelling can be a plus when it comes to planning. In some areas, you’ll get permission to remodel where you would never be allowed to build a new house.
The floating staircase
The staircase miraculously hangs in mid-air, without touching the floor – a real feat of both engineering and craftsmanship. ‘I love hanging things,’ Peter confesses. ‘When there’s a gap, it’s like magic!’ To persuade his structural engineer that it could work, Peter lined up six workmen to simulate the weight that the ceiling would have to carry. It worked.
A carpenter made the staircase using traditional methods, incorporating the unusually-patterned zebrano wood. It was so beautiful that Cathi and Peter have left it exposed at the back, so that the craftsmanship is on show.
Looking back…
High point? ‘The excitement of the lorries coming up the hill carrying these huge bits of the house.’
Low point? ‘Being called and told that our neighbour’s wall had collapsed, knowing there was nothing we could do but wait to hear if the insurers would pay out.’
Favourite bit of the house? ‘The whole space – it still feels like living in a luxury hotel.’
What would you do differently? ‘Look for a site with
a slightly shallower gradient.’
Would you do it again? ‘Definitely – it’s the ultimate creative project. Jonny will come round to the idea!’
Budget? ‘The plot was £325,000, and we budgeted
the same for the groundworks, but went over.’
Looking back…
Who? Polly Bagnall and Philip Dobree and their children.
Where? Dulwich, south-east London.
What? Three subdivided 18th-century cottages, restored and extended.
How long? Nine months.
High point? ‘When the glass went in, everything came together and suddenly the design made sense.’
Low point? ‘The negotiation to buy the properties was tortuous: we had to make several sealed bids.’
Tip ‘Always use a single contractor – you’ll have more comeback if anything goes wrong.’
Budget? £330,000
