howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#1
Dover on the naughty list but not much they can do if developers are not confident of getting a return on their investment. Just by me sites at Westmount and Malvern Road have been derelict for ages.
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/kent-councils-fail-to-meet-house-building-targets-159694/howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#2
Captain Haddock
- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,397
#3
Yet the person/room ratio in the UK is the lowest it's been since the Black Death!
http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/stats/People/Persons-per-room
1. We are not using the present housing stock efficiently.
2. We are 'inviting' in an extra 1/4 million people a year.
"The world is still a weird place, despite my efforts to make clear and perfect sense of it".
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#4
I was by Buckland Church recently.The old paper mill site is still not completed.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#5
I don't know what the figures on empty homes are but overseas investors buying property then leaving it empty can't help matters.
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
#6
Clearly the current model is not working so perhaps we need a more imaginative set of solutions to this rather than the current private developer model, given that their primary driver is to maintain their profit margin not deliver the volume of properties required.
Perhaps we should be looking at ways to encourage Community Land Trusts, Self Build partnerships, Community partnerships with Housing Associations etc. all of which have worked on a small scale around the UK.
Bob you cannot condemn new housing as "breeding boxes" and other pejorative terms yet also complain about person/room ratios or housing density at the same time.
We can either be part of the solution or remain part of the problem...
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,397
#7
howard mcsweeney1 wrote:I don't know what the figures on empty homes are but overseas investors buying property then leaving it empty can't help matters.
See:- 1. We are not using the present housing stock efficiently.
Also see:-
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/new-zealand-ban-foreigners-buy-homes-housing-crisis-property-building-a8107681.html
Not difficult if people have the political will I would suggest? Stop building and start using what we already have efficiently.
+ when we do build, build high quality, high density housing. Just look at this - and it was COUNCIL housing! :-
http://www.lovelondoncouncilhousing.com/2011/06/1900-boundary-estate.html
Here's a 'vijo' as they call it locally with a bit of the Boundary Estate on it :-
"The world is still a weird place, despite my efforts to make clear and perfect sense of it".
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Karlos- Location: Dover
- Registered: 1 Oct 2012
- Posts: 2,599
#8
Sue Nicholas wrote:I was by Buckland Church recently.The old paper mill site is still not completed.
The old paper mill has hardly been started
Prime development land, but a Micky Mouse developer with about 3 workers doing the work
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#9
Interesting film Bob.We need people on the council with imagine.Karlos there are two completed blocks of flats the former managers house is complete but the loft conversions are taking time.Maybe prices are too high?.It would appear they sell one unit then move on to convert another.I think that DDC need to jolly them along and not build on green fields.On a brighter note Municipal Charities are making progress to build six flats on Cowgate Hill.Im Chairman of the charity and keeping a strict eye on progress.
Karlos- Location: Dover
- Registered: 1 Oct 2012
- Posts: 2,599
#10
The new-builds were finished about 5 years ago.
Look how quick the 2 developments in Whitfield have gone up, both done by proper developers.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#11
Yes I opened them
Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
#12
The culprits are Homes England ,previously Homes & Communities Agency. They are also the stumbling block for Connaught Barracks slow development.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#13
Thanks for the up date
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#14
I did email Charlie got a quick response from his office ,then today a further email from Westminster wanting further info.Ido have the ???.?My son told me the correct pronunciation.
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 8,397
#15
"The world is still a weird place, despite my efforts to make clear and perfect sense of it".
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,709
#16
Indeed Bob and very much this is part of my points in post 6
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,025
#17
The article re Cornwall very interesting.Its a great pity more imagination was not put into the Whitfield development.I expect the planning consent recently passed for Gore Lane Eastry against strong local opposition will be mor boxes .our planners and sadly some of our Councillors have very little imagination.Where I live we were lucky and a lot of thought went into the design .Different roof lines ,mixed colour brickwork etc .Im just sad that my words were not heeded re the cafe extension at Kearsney Abbey .We were granted all this money and it seems some common sense went out of the window.In the old days people listened.I got Flint put int the walls of houses near the Abbey.Abbey Falls
Guest 1467- Registered: 30 Jan 2015
- Posts: 149
#18
If we have these people running our town down, claiming it's one of the worst places to live, then investors will be frightened away. You can see from house prices here that property may not be the best investment. Having said that, I firmly believe that things will be much different once the shopping mall is in full swing and the DWD is done. It will create more confidence.
Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
#19
the new builds along snargate street are 4 beded town houses, all 9 are priced at £285,000 each.no back garden as such and possible parking problems to boot.traffic noise etc, etc.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#20
Brian Dixon wrote:the new builds along snargate street are 4 beded town houses, all 9 are priced at £285,000 each.no back garden as such and possible parking problems to boot.traffic noise etc, etc.
I can't see anyone with that sort of money wanting to watch trucks going past their windows 24/7. I seem to remember the sea angling shop having a sign in the window inviting prospective buyers to call in there first.
Guest 1467 likes this