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FILL’ EM UP: WHAT’ S NEXT
FILL’ EM UP
TAKE ACTION! HERE’ S HOW YOU CAN HELP US FILL’ EM UP
You’ ve told us your great ideas that could transform empty property, be it houses, oldstations, librariesandpublicbuildings or oices in the city centre. We feature some here, and we’ ll update this online and in print in the coming weeks and months.
Butwewanttohearmore. Tellusaboutbuildings youthinkcouldbeusedforhousesorplacesthatare important to your community which are under threat.
We’ ll be your hub to pass on details of people who can help.
Andwewillalsogiveaplatformandcontacts fororganisationsorcampaignerswithexpertise andskillstomakethesethingshappen, soshare withusanyusefullinksandinfosowecanshareit with others.
Ifyou’ retakingaction, tellus – it’ s up to all of us to keep the ball rolling.
USETEMPORARYLEASELAWS
SK Studio
Big Issue reader Charles Woodd, from Salisbury, pointedtotheMeanwhileUse Lease, developedafewyearsagobythe DepartmentforCommunitiesandLocal Government to enable councils and private landlords to lease empty shops for temporary uses with reassurance theycangetthepropertybackatshort notice when it’ s needed. The Meanwhile Foundation has more info on how to make temporary use of property. Contact: info @ meanwhile. org. uk. meanwhile. org. uk
WINNING WHITELADIES CAMPAIGN, BRISTOL
Re-energising businesses in Bristol
Set up to revitalise businesses and communityspirit, andlinkup communitygroupsintheareaof Whiteladies Road, Cotham Hill,
AlmaRoad, LowerRedlandRoad andWorralRoadinBristol. winningwhiteladies. co. uk
SHOP AROUND“ Councilemptybuildingsareabig concern. AlsoIhavenoticedinBristol ahugenumberofemptyretailoutlets. Thesetendtobemorenoticeabletothe publicastheyareinbusyshoppingareas. I have photographed many of them.” Colin Moody Contact: colin @ streetworksfilms. com
Riverside Centre, Evesham
LIVING ABOVE THE SHOP“ Riverside Centre, Evesham, was built whentimeswerebetter, themajorityof unitsarenowboardedup. It’ sashame these units cannot be utilised for housing. EnglishHeritagehadascheme‘ Livingabovetheshop’ designedtoget rooms above shops inhabited so town centresdidn’ tbecomewastelandsafter 5pm. Whatever happened to that?” Kerry Moreton, Broadway Contact: editorial @ bigissue. com
We asked Historic England about this whoresponded:‘ Livingovertheshop’ was a term used to encourage the better use of the upper floors of commercial buildings. [ Campaigner ] Ann Petherick was its principal proponent. English Heritage, before we became Historic
England, was loosely involved in the issueinthepastbutitisn’ tsomething we’ re currently working on, though we remain supportive.”
FILL UP UNIVERSITY HALLS
Heriot Watt university halls
“ OursonisatuniversityinLondon, and it struck me that during the Christmas holidays, mostofthestudenthallsall overthecountryareempty. Asyouare probably aware, university holidays are long and frequent, so this could be worth investigating.” Valerie Davis, by email
A PLATFORM FOR NEW IDEAS“ Kew Bridge was apparently renovated about three years ago after staying derelictformanyayear. Coulditbe used for housing or shelter?” Claudine McCreadie Contact: editorial @ bigissue. com
Kew Bridge station
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THE BIG ISSUE / p25 / January 11-17 2016