Which is it? Converting shops into houses
Discussion
This story in the wail suggests that empty shops / high streets could be converted into housing.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1367013/Ru...
Yet this story on the Beeb says "The new rules could be in place before the end of the year. They would not apply to shops"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12792614
Who is more confused, the press or the government?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1367013/Ru...
Yet this story on the Beeb says "The new rules could be in place before the end of the year. They would not apply to shops"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12792614
Who is more confused, the press or the government?
GuinnessMK said:
This story in the wail suggests that empty shops / high streets could be converted into housing.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1367013/Ru...
Yet this story on the Beeb says "The new rules could be in place before the end of the year. They would not apply to shops"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12792614
Who is more confused, the press or the government?
A friend bought a shop in Somerset. I'm not too sure of the timings, but I seem to remember that it had been advertised for sale as a shop for 6 months without a buyer and then he was able to apply for planning permission to convert it into a house. Whatever the timing, there certainly is no 'once a shop, always a shop' rule.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1367013/Ru...
Yet this story on the Beeb says "The new rules could be in place before the end of the year. They would not apply to shops"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-12792614
Who is more confused, the press or the government?
magpie215 said:
slightly off topic.
Not shop to housing but a Pub near to me was converted into a Tesco express.
very strange to see it like that now.
I would imagine that happens a lot now, with Tesco and Sainsburys buying up anything they can to 'corner' the market. A local pub where I grew up has just morphed in to a Sainsburys Local.Not shop to housing but a Pub near to me was converted into a Tesco express.
very strange to see it like that now.
Change of use from retail to residential, would possibly depend on the sighting of the retail/shop premises, isolated and not in a rank of other shops, would be advantages for any changes to residential use.
Drive into many towns within the UK, and one can see many high streets littered with empty shops, many that are an eyesore, vandalised and scrawled with graffiti. Local council authorities should be encouraged through central government legislation, for either compulsory purchase of these shops, then changing the same to low cost residential use, and/or to offer grants to the owners of those shops, to change the same to residential accommodation.
Drive into many towns within the UK, and one can see many high streets littered with empty shops, many that are an eyesore, vandalised and scrawled with graffiti. Local council authorities should be encouraged through central government legislation, for either compulsory purchase of these shops, then changing the same to low cost residential use, and/or to offer grants to the owners of those shops, to change the same to residential accommodation.
Du1point8 said:
wonder if you can get a nice sized pub and convert it into a house too?
One just burned down (4 weeks ago) quite near me and it could make a quite nice open plan house.
There's one in Lewes, just up from the Cuilfail. It is, I'm assured, very nice inside but it still looks like a pub in a way.One just burned down (4 weeks ago) quite near me and it could make a quite nice open plan house.
Wings said:
Change of use from retail to residential, would possibly depend on the sighting of the retail/shop premises, isolated and not in a rank of other shops, would be advantages for any changes to residential use.
Drive into many towns within the UK, and one can see many high streets littered with empty shops, many that are an eyesore, vandalised and scrawled with graffiti. Local council authorities should be encouraged through central government legislation, for either compulsory purchase of these shops, then changing the same to low cost residential use, and/or to offer grants to the owners of those shops, to change the same to residential accommodation.
And after a few years, when people need to shop, they can drive to a business park miles and miles out of town because there are no shops anywhere near where they live. But none of these converted shops would have any parking facilities, meaning that every normal residential street would be packed bumper to bumper with parked cars on both sides and there would still be cars which can't find any decent parking.Drive into many towns within the UK, and one can see many high streets littered with empty shops, many that are an eyesore, vandalised and scrawled with graffiti. Local council authorities should be encouraged through central government legislation, for either compulsory purchase of these shops, then changing the same to low cost residential use, and/or to offer grants to the owners of those shops, to change the same to residential accommodation.
But I suppose everyone can take the bus to do their weekly grocery shopping.
Derek Smith said:
Du1point8 said:
wonder if you can get a nice sized pub and convert it into a house too?
One just burned down (4 weeks ago) quite near me and it could make a quite nice open plan house.
There's one in Lewes, just up from the Cuilfail. It is, I'm assured, very nice inside but it still looks like a pub in a way.One just burned down (4 weeks ago) quite near me and it could make a quite nice open plan house.
http://www.circlebar.co.uk/index.php
Shame it burnt down and would be nice to get it back as a bar but it would make some nice flats to rent out...
Dont get how the fire in the main bar was not put out unless it started in the kitchen, but the place was never busy...
sinizter said:
And after a few years, when people need to shop, they can drive to a business park miles and miles out of town because there are no shops anywhere near where they live. But none of these converted shops would have any parking facilities, meaning that every normal residential street would be packed bumper to bumper with parked cars on both sides and there would still be cars which can't find any decent parking.
But I suppose everyone can take the bus to do their weekly grocery shopping.
People already need to shop, and they've generally already defected to out of town hypers to do it. Were that not the case, we wouldn't have any empty shops to be having the discussion about.But I suppose everyone can take the bus to do their weekly grocery shopping.
Excessive parking charges force people to shop outside the towns.
Business rates are forcing these local shops to push up their prices to survive.
No wonder shops are becoming derelict and customers shopping at the large supermarkets.
The only people to blame for the death of the high street shops are government.
Business rates are forcing these local shops to push up their prices to survive.
No wonder shops are becoming derelict and customers shopping at the large supermarkets.
The only people to blame for the death of the high street shops are government.
Tsippy said:
Excessive parking charges force people to shop outside the towns.
Business rates are forcing these local shops to push up their prices to survive.
No wonder shops are becoming derelict and customers shopping at the large supermarkets.
The only people to blame for the death of the high street shops are government.
Plus shop owners that would only open during business hours (when most people are at work)Business rates are forcing these local shops to push up their prices to survive.
No wonder shops are becoming derelict and customers shopping at the large supermarkets.
The only people to blame for the death of the high street shops are government.
The butcher that was fairly good, closed down near me a year or so ago. A mate of mine who knew his son was told that it was due to lack of customers.
His opening hours - Monday to Friday - 9am to 4.30pm. Plenty of people around who would like to support their local butcher, but personally I could not afford the time off work to get them him. I am probably not the only one.
Just one example of many, but why would I, or anyone, take (possibly unpaid) time off work when I can nip out to the supermarket at 8pm and grab everything I need under one roof, or just place an order on ebay and get it sent straight to me at the office.
A friend of mine has just launched a service which fills shop windows with electronic advertising. The theory being that long empty units can still have their frontage monetised while there is no retail outlet within it.
Makes you wonder whether you could end up with virtual highstreets in parts?
Makes you wonder whether you could end up with virtual highstreets in parts?
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