1 / 50

Choice, Demand and Demolition

Choice, Demand and Demolition. by John Earnshaw Low Demand Project Manager The Empty Homes Agency Queen’s Hotel, Leeds 26 th April 2006. An overview of the session. Facts and Figures The Empty Homes Agency EHA Low Demand Project Low Demand in Social Housing Kirklees MDC - example

kiana
Download Presentation

Choice, Demand and Demolition

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Choice, Demand and Demolition by John Earnshaw Low Demand Project Manager The Empty Homes Agency Queen’s Hotel, Leeds 26th April 2006

  2. An overview of the session • Facts and Figures • The Empty Homes Agency • EHA Low Demand Project • Low Demand in Social Housing • Kirklees MDC - example • High Demand Solutions • Market Renewal Pathfinders • The Case For/Against Demolition • The European Housing Scene – Can we learn anything from our EU neighbours? • Questions & Answers

  3. The Empty Homes Agency • The Empty Homes Agency is a housing association with charitable status, although we neither own nor manage any empty property • The Empty Homes Agencyis an independent campaigning charity, which exists to highlight the waste of empty property in England and works with others to devise and promote solutions to bring empty property back into use • The Reason Why We Exist set up in 1992 in response to the high number of empty properties and the crisis with homelessness - something had to be done!

  4. Empty Homes 2003 Total Empty Vacant >6 months 718,720 308,438

  5. Empty Homes 2004 Total Empty RSLLA 689,675 57,536 39,195

  6. Empty Homes 2005 Total Empty RSL LA 680,412 40,613 48,594

  7. What do the figures show? • A massive reduction of 29,045 empty homes overall in England in 2004 • A further reduction of 10,000 empty homes overall in 2005 • That The Empty Homes Agency’s Enabling Strategy Really Works!

  8. The Empty Homes Agency website • Click on ‘Resources’ • Then click on ‘Statistics’ • www.emptyhomes.com

  9. The Empty Homes Agency’s Low Demand Project • Officially started March 2004 • Based in the Barnsley • Big Lottery Funded • Off to a ‘flying’ start

  10. The Empty Homes Agency’sLow Demand Project • Setting up project to help communities in areas of low demand • Developing communications, media work and policy • Developing EHA work on low demand with the nine Market Renewal Pathfinders • For the very latest on the project see – www.emptyhomes.com/ld/lowdhome.htm

  11. Early visits…Burnley and Hull • Daneshouse • Giroscope and North Bransholme

  12. …. Leeds and Salford • CANOPY Housing Project Leeds • City of Salford

  13. So what is Low Demand? • There are approximately 680,000 empty homes in England, many of which are in areas of low demand for housing. • Almost one million householders live in areas of so called low demand for housing or housing market failure. • These are areas with high numbers of empty homes and often problems of anti-social behaviour, crime, drugs and dereliction.

  14. What exactly is Low Demand in Social Housing? In the case of social housing, housing in blocks or management patches of at least 50 dwellings, it is classed as low demand, where one or more of the following symptoms is exhibited • tenancy offers frequently refused • a small or non-existent waiting list • high rates of voids available for letting • high rates of tenancy turnover

  15. Typical ‘low demand’ social housing in Kirklees UK So why did social housing need to be marketed in Kirklees in 1999?

  16. Let’s turn the clock back to 1999 and find out why • Over 1,000 Voids Scheduled for Demolition • Appointed as Voids Project Manager • Lots of Fresh Thinking, Innovation and New Ideas on Lettings and Marketing in Social Housing • Some examples on the next few slides………..

  17. Getting to Know The Product • Inspecting all vacant properties, including bungalows, flats, houses and sheltered accommodation for any repairs, grass-cutting and litter etc • Talking to and/or visiting local ‘quality’ estate agents to see how they operated – brochures, reception areas, ‘TO LET’ boards, viewings etc

  18. ‘TO LET’Boards

  19. Advertising • Advertising and Marketing – useful items • It paid to advertise – literally anywhere! • Placed regular smallish ‘ads’ in the local and regional newspapers • Designed and printed a coloured ‘Property Guide’ to distribute to prospective tenants • Grouped email ‘shots’ to customers • SMS - Text Messaging to customers • Tried local radio!

  20. Yes, anywhere!

  21. Swansea Home Choicewww.swansea.gov.ukAnne Smith - Project Manager says ‘the most successful marketing techniques have reduced voids from 1,500 in 2004 to just 452 this week’ • Detailed Property Specifications • One to One Interviews with customers • Regular Customer Surveys with prize draws • Show Homes and Open Days • Targeted Mail Shots

  22. Some of the Kirklees results through Fresh Thinking • Let over 500 ‘low demand’ properties in 12 month period • Creation of pioneering Kirklees/Camden housing partnership • Won Empty Homes Agency’s National Award for ‘Best Strategy on Tackling Low Demand’ • BBC made documentary on my work • Creation of ‘LAWN’ – movement of people from London and the South East to the Midlands and the North of England

  23. SomeHigh DemandSolutions

  24. Choice Base Lettings andRegional Mobility • LAWN • MoveUK

  25. ‘Fresh Start’ Options • London Borough of Lewisham – ‘Moving out of London’ scheme • Poole Borough Council – tenants open day

  26. Low Demand in the Private Sector

  27. Housing Market in Burnley

  28. Low Demand – so what is working? • Answers? – no single answer • Community Anchors - Chicago • Community involvement • Early monitoring system • Home swaps - Salford • Homesteading - Sheffield • Mobility schemes – HEMS, LAWN & MOVEUK • Re-profiling – North West • Self-help housing – Canopy & Giroscope

  29. How can The Empty Homes Agency help? • Campaigning voice (e.g. Empty Homes Management Orders) • Good practice guide • Local authority support • Low demand support • RSL support • Website www.emptyhomes.com

  30. Constantly Look for New Ideas • Change of use ? • Conferences • Courses • Local forums • Networking • Partnering • Seminars

  31. There are nine Market Renewal Pathfinder areas • Birmingham and Sandwell • East Lancashire • Humberside • Manchester and Salford • Merseyside • Newcastle and Gateshead • North Staffordshire • Oldham and Rochdale • South Yorkshire

  32. House of Commons – Select Committee Report –Empty Homes and Low Demand Pathfinders – 8th February • Written and Verbal Evidence from: • TPAS • SAVE Britain’s Heritage • English Heritage • Empty Homes Agency • Welsh Streets Home Group • Whitefield Conservation Action Group

  33. House of Commons – Select Committee Report (8th) Empty Homes and Low Demand Pathfinders – Summary - 5th April • Concerns expressed about the scale of demolitions envisaged and the impact on vulnerable communities • Pathfinders need to consult better with local communities and consider different options for improvements, including more refurbishments • Broad recognition that the communities need support during this period of transition • Pathfinders should be allowed to spend a significant proportion of their funds on helping communities

  34. DEMOLITION – Is it really a valid option? • The tradition of bulldozing areas in decline must be overcome if the aim of sustainable development is to be achieved, the government was warned this week.   Inside Housing 12th December 2004

  35. DEMOLITION – Phase 1Read all about it! Empties fall but associations buck trend • Another fall in empty homes across England has been marred by a rise in the number owned by housing associations.   Inside Housing - 13th February 2004

  36. DEMOLITION – Phase 3 North Staffs pathfinder plans 4,000+ home demolition • A £35 million plan to ease market decline has been agreed by the North Staffordshire housing market renewal pathfinder.   Inside Housing 12th August 2003

  37. ITVMonday 16th May - Friday 20th May 2005 

  38. CompleteRefurbishment throughInnovativeDesign • Terraced house in Powis Street, Toxteth • Completely refurbished • New bathroom • New kitchen • Completely Transformed for £24K • Affordable for First Time Buyers • Is this a valid solution for the Pathfinders to copy?

  39. Urban Splash Chimney Pot Park, Salford

  40. Opposition to large scale demolition?

  41. SEEwww.fightfourourhomes.com

  42. Some more case studies • Burnley Wood Community Action Group www.burnleywood.com • Canopy Housing Project – Leeds • Dall Street Residents – Burnley • Giroscope – Hull • Welsh Streets - Liverpool

  43. Demolition or Refurbishment?This is what we, the Dall Street Residents would like to see done to our much loved terraced homes.

  44. Ringo attacks Demolition of City Homes • Ringo Starr, the former Beatle, said yesterday (23rd May) that 20,000 homes on Merseyside, including his birthplace, should be restored instead of being knocked down • "Why are they knocking them down? If it is economically viable, they should do them up”

  45. European Network for Housing Research • www.enhr.ibf.uu.se

  46. YOU’VE NOW SEEN THE EVIDENCE! So, the question the nine Market Renewal Pathfinders must now ask themselves - Is Wholesale Demolition Really a Valid Option? What do you think?

  47. ALWAYS REMEMBERWHATEVER YOU DO‘PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN THE CURE’

  48. The Empty Homes Agencywww.emptyhomes.com 195 – 197 Victoria Street London SW1E 5NE And PO Box 3609 Barnsley S75 1WW

  49. Thank You for Listening andAny Questions?

More Related