stouravonmagazine.co.uk
54 New Stour & Avon, June 30, 2023
Property
National award for renovation project A project that saw an empty Blandford home brought back into use has scooped a prestigious national award. Dorset Council oversaw the renovation of the property, in West Street, fright, or use as accommodation by people in need. And work by the council’s Housing Standards Team has been recognised at the Empty Homes Network conference. Neglected for 20 years, the Grade II-listed building has been transformed into a home for locals. With the cost of refurbishment higher than expected due to the age of the property, Dorset Council was able to work with project partners to get the scheme ‘over the line’, providing an innovative blend of grants and loans. In exchange for the additional funding the owners, a charitable trust, leased the building to the council with nomination rights for the next 10 years. A spokesman for the Empty Homes Network said: “Dorset Council and Lendology have developed a seamless relationship that complements each other’s strengths, to provide support and financial assistance through a challenging set of circumstances. “Resulting in not only a property being brought back into use, the leasing of the property to the local authority has ensured that the property will be occupied and managed to suit local need, reduce the reliance on B&B and temporary accommodation, and remove a blight from a busy marketplace.” Graham Carr Jones, lead member for housing at the council, said: “The main beneficiaries are of course the people that can now call the property home, where they can be settled and thrive. “We overcame a range of obstacles to make this happen in partnership with Lendology and our shared vision of bringing
this property back to life no matter what was key to a successful outcome.” Emma Lower, CEO of Lendology, added: “Empty homes are a valuable resource being put to waste at a time when housing is so important. “We understand the challenges people face in financing and renovating empty homes, and a lot of homeowners are unaware of the lending scheme funded by Dorset Council. “Our unique approach to lending allows us to solve a range of finance issues in local communities and we love turning empty houses into loved homes.”
Can going greener save you money? The simple answer is ‘yes’. Armishaws Removals have money-saving tips for our homes and gardens.
Make Your Move
No Charge Do you automatically plug your phone in every night whether it needs it or not? It’s another simple energy saving that will also extend the shelf-life of your phone’s battery.
Get Creative Upcycling furniture is fun to do, it creates projects that family members can share. It also means less goes to landfill and it’s cheaper than buying new. If you’re painting it, make sure you use water rather than oil-based paints.
Walk The Walk Yes, it might take an extra 10 minutes to get to town/work/school but the sun is shining, so get outside and enjoy it! Leaving the car at home will make you, your family and the planet healthier and with fuel prices so high, it’ll save you money.
Royal Flush If you’re on a water metre, reducing the flush can be a handy saving. A brick in the cistern (in a water-tight bag or container) can dramatically reduce the amount of water you use annually. Switching to a reduced flow shower-head is another simple win.
Spend Spend Spend! This might seem counter-intuitive but ditching old inefficient items now (fridges, washing machines, kettles) will help reduce energy usage and save you money in the long term. Old appliances are broken down and many of the materials recycled.
Shower Power Spending one minute less in the shower each day can reduce your electricity bill by as much as £15 a year. Don’t Standby Don’t leave TV’s, computer monitors, stereos, radios, etc on Standby.
It might be only another small annual saving but added together... you’re saving the planet and saving cash! That’s Rubbish! A lot of our rubbish can be composted for gardening. Grass cuttings, some food waste, eggshells, paper, card, there is a massive list of compostable items that will save you trips to the garden centre. Grow Your Own Now that you’ve got your own compost, you can start growing your own fruit and veg. It’s cheap, rewarding and can be great fun to do with younger family members. Pack It Up Say no to pre-packaged lunches and start taking your own to work. It’s a good way to reduce home food waste, save money and makes sticking to healthier eating habits easier. Plus, every time you make rather than buy, you’ve saved on food airmiles. n For more household hacks and tips head to armishaws.com/blog.