The Empty Homes Agency is an

Press Release
independentThe
campaigning charity,
Empty Homes which
Agency is an

Press Release
exists to highlight the waste
independent of empty
campaigning charity, which
property inexists
England and worksthe
to highlight withwaste
othersof empty
to devise and promote
property sustainable
in England and works with others
solutions totobring
deviseempty propertysustainable
and promote back
into use. solutions to bring empty property back
into use.

News Release - 20th October 2004

6 remaining permanently as affordable housing. This project was unique of its kind and a
whole new challenge and experience for the Empty Homes Team. The judges commented
EMPTY PROPERTY AWARDS 2004
that the scheme was a good example of "…bringing back into use abandoned high street
accommodation in a commercial environment."
The EmptyAndHomes Agency
The Francis is set Award
Garrett to announce the winners
was warded of the
to joint 2004Martin
winners empty Bewick
propertyfrom Sunder-
awards atland
theirCity
joint conference with the CIEH in central London on 28th October
Council and Lisa Wilson from Gateshead Council. Lisa and Martin 2004.
established
The Empty Homes Agency Good Practice Awards 2004, this year supported by ORBIS,
the North East Empty Property Forum to enable Empty Property Practitioners in the area to
celebratereceive
best practice in the field
and distribute good ofpractice
empty property work and act
ideas, information on as a spurand
current to encourage
up coming legisla-
more action
tionto
andbring empty
relevant homes
local back intoThe
knowledge. use.forum
The award winners
also gives are as afollows:
the north voice with regard to
empty property work and the issues, which affect housing in the region. Since its launch in
The Agency award2003
February for the
theMost
forumSuccessful
has met onEmptythree Property
occasions.Strategy went tohave
All members Cityprovid
Of ed positive
Westminster Council. Making the strategy more comprehensive by using
feedback and have found the forum to be very useful. The forum has successfully the full range of covered
options available, has added
the following value,
subjects, andhas
which allowed
led tothem to beaction
increased more flexible in their
in reducing emptyapproach .
properties
In practice, this has allowed
throughout the North East.the council to devise tailor made solutions for owners, leaving
them more satisfied with the service they provide.
Exeter City
"Our Council won the award
joint conference for Best
with the CIEHHousing
and the Association Scheme for
National Association of aEmpty
scheme Property
that created 10 homes(NAEPP)
Practitioners and has housed 36 local people
is a conference on a site ofby1.23
for practitioners hectares, which
practitioners. All ofwas
the sessions
previously
arealed
Grade II listedexpert
by people building that field
in their was used as a And
of work. chapel
theand
daya concludes
church school.
with Wtheithin
presentation
the former
of playground, the derelict
the empty property awardsoutside toilet block
recognising where was replaced
real impactwith a newmade
has been bungalow
to bring empty
whilst thehomes
classrooms were converted into 9 houses with galleried sleeping areas.
back into use," said Jonathan Ellis, Chie f Executive of the Empty Homes Agency. The
Scheme demonstrates the potential for housing associations to contribute to the heritage
around us.

The award for Most Innovative Conversion Scheme went to Adactus Housing Group Ltd
and involved
ENDS The Housing Corporation, Preston City Council and Architects Britch. The
project uses existing housing stock in an innovative way to turn something that is unpop u-
lar into something that is desirable. The Judges comment was that this project was
Notes for Editors
"Innovative…and possibly
1. For further an important
information replicable
or a copy of the 'model'
Summary forof
tackling the veryWinners
all the Award pressingplease co n-
problem tact
of low demand".
the Agency's Communications Manager, Shashi Ioannides on 0207 828 6288 or
shashi.ioannides@emptyhomes.com
The award for Most Innovative Partnership Scheme went to Brighton & Hove City Cou n-
cil, involving Brighton Housing Trust, Southdown Health NHS Trust, and Brighton &
Hove Primary Healthcare Trust. This scheme evolved from an original idea from Brighton
Housing Trust and Southdowns Health NHS Trust. The ideal housing model did not exist,
they decided to see if and how they could create a new model. Putting the scheme together
involved the Housing Trust, two healthcare providers and numerous Council departments
working together. It has resulted in an innovative accommodation provision and the re-
occupation of two large long-term empty properties in the City. The Judges commented
Head Office
that the project showed "…scale in terms of impact and show(s) an interesting link b e- Empty Homes Agency Head Office
tween health and housing." 195-197 Victoria
EmptyStreet
Homes Agency
London
195-197 Victoria Street
The winner of The London Empty Property Hotline Award was the London Borough of SW1E 5NE London
T: 020 7828 6288SW1E 5NE
Brent. In October 2000, it was identified as being in need of attention through the London F: 020 7828T:7006
020 7828 6288
Empty Homes Hotline and was then referred to London Borough of Brent. The Cou ncil's F: 020 7828 7006
Empty Property Officer identified the owners and worked with them to secure planning Northern Office:
Empty HomesNorthern
Agency Office:
permission to convert the property, select a Registered Social Landlord and enter into a POEmpty
Box 3609
Homes Agency
lease agreement with them. A grant of around £500,000 was secured towards the total pro- Barnsley
PO Box 3609
ject costs of around £1.5 million. The project, which comprises 27 flats, has been co m- S75 1WW Barnsley
T/F: 01226 390 093S75 1WW
pleted in April 2002. All the flats are used for affordable housing for the first 10 years with M: 07719T/F:
79801226
033 390 093
M: 07719 798 033