Affordable housing in rural areas...

[Nemesis]

No I'm not sure what's affordable either - but here's a short report from this week's 'Heritage Link' with more news on the topic.

I agree with the idea of re-use of existsing buildings, although that has to be balanced against spoiling historic farm buildings by poor quality conversion:


Online support for providers of rural homes

At the same time, a new Government website has also been launched to help the provision of affordable homes in rural areas. The website, jointly sponsored by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and Defra, contains information, contacts and links to best practice to those involved or interested in providing such accommodation.

It follows the report of Affordable Rural Housing Commission (ARHC) which identified the need for more affordable housing in rural areas. The ARHC's recommendations sought to maximise the opportunities to use existing buildings to achieve sustainability gains of helping regeneration and reducing the need for new build.

Visitors to the site

http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/arh/index.htm

can access current and proposed Government housing and planning policies that impact on the rural sector.

 

[Penners]

Any chance of turning Battersea Power Station in to affordable housing?!

I see that the developer who was going to turn it into a mini-Las Vegas has dumped the idea, so it will continue to stand and rot for the foreseeable future. Such a shame.

 

[Nemesis]

Interesting - can you send me a link to some more info? I was talking to a Gov official about it on Friday! Sooo... maybe the chimneys won't need to be demolished after all???

As far as the Indy is concerned it's all happening:

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article1816883.ece


http://www.batterseapowerstation.org.uk/hist1.html


http://www.batterseapowerstation.org.uk/letters/letters.html#parkviewplans


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Further reading about Battersea Power Station
Binney, M., The Colossus of Battersea, SAVE Britain's Heritage, 1981

Cochrane, B., Landmark of London; The story of Battersea Power Station, Central Electricity Generating Board, c1975

Garner, K., A Well Known Power Station, MA dissertation (unpublished), University of York Institute of Advanced Architectural Studies, 1993

Stamp, G., Boyd-Harte, G. (illus.) Temples of Power, The Cygnet Press, 1979

Stamp, G., "Battersea Power Station", in The Thirties Society Journal No1, 1980

Stamp, G., "Giles Gilbert Scott. The Problem of Modernism", in Architectural Design, Vol49, No10-11, 1979, pp72-83

The attempts to convert the building into a leisure centre since 1983 have been given extensive coverage in The Architects' Journal, Building and Building Design.

Reports and pamphlets can also be obtained from The Borough Planner, Wandsworth Borough Council, The Town Hall, London SW18 2PU. Tel 44 181 871 6000

 

[Penners]

Interesting - can you send me a link to some more info?

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-2393938,00.html

 

[Nemesis]

Ta. It's all a scandal really.

 

[plumbers mate]

It's being used as a store for rotting apples* isn't it?
(*aka an art work)

 

[Me!]

Restore Battersea power station, pigs might fly!-

http://www.stufish.com/Pages/Dinosa.../Pink Floyd Animals Concert Tour 1977 01.html

 

[Nemesis]

It's currently being considered for a II* listing, an upgrade from II.


That would allow a greater say from EH and grant aid.

 

[Penners]

I sincerely hope that grant aid wouldn't be given to a developer, unless it was tied up contractually to be repaid once he started making profit from the site.

 

[Nemesis]

It would only be given if there is a charitable trust or the public has access.

 

[Penners]

So a huge shopping temple - sorry, mall - would qualify?

 

[Nemesis]

Given the fact EH has had grant aid cut hugely I suspect it's not a priority... in theory it could be compulsorily purchased of course.


The nitty gritty is here - please read, research and report back:


http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.1117

 

[Penners]

Will there be a test?

 

[Nemesis]

Naturally!