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Originally Posted by park381
Graham, did you watch the programme on TV, they set a budget of £18,000(that being the cost to demolish) to refurbish a property that was middle terrace and due for demolition, the project went over budget by £6,000. On completion of the project local residents were invited to view the house, all were impressed by what they saw. If the house had been put up for sale, it would have been priced at the low end, first time buyers. As I previously posted, why demolish and destroy local communities and build the artificial rubbish as they have done on the old wrists wires site. Look round you not in accrington but other areas where old property houses mills etc. have been upgraded to comply with current standards. Is there not a similar project underway in the salford/manchester area at the moment. Even the Housing Minister indicated during the programme that local councils had been told to look at refurbishment as an option.
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One has just been done in Woodnook for TV. I agree with what is said. However there is an oversupply so how do we manage empty unwanted houses? I think HBC's policy is to demolish the oversupply plus some more and the shortfall will allow some new build as there is excess demand for semis and bungalows in Hyndburn. All other terraced property will be, as you have pointed out, refurbed. How, that has to be decided because you are talking about some 10,000 properties.
There are a variety of refurb schemes and I agree, they look excellent. It is amazing to see what can be done with a terraced house. I am personally disapointed that we have not moved faster with refurbs, though they will happen - eventually! What has not been decided is how to fund them but it is likely it will be a small percentage grant and some equity release/loan pegged to inflation instead of commercial lending rates. I am not sure but this is where people are going right now.
A major problem is the lack of builders and trades people. Hence much of the early work has been training at Accy College ready for the bulge in refurbs/redevelopment.