Diana Christie and Rowland Belcher Britain's Empty Homes

Across the country, empty properties that could be homes

are waiting to be brought back into use.

I'll be finding out why and what you need to do to rescue a house for yourself.

And I'll be doing some digging of my own to find out more

about our housing stock,

our heritage and why we should both be reinventing and preserving Britain's empty homes.

When it comes to property hunting,

I think it is fair to say most of us are looking for a bargain.

One way to achieve this is to seek an empty property and renovate it.

Of course, that takes hard work and careful budgeting,

and it's not really just about saving money,

it's also about saving a piece of history.

You could revitalise a home for many years to come.

'On today's show, I'll be meeting a pair of novice renovators

'who have taken a leap of faith with a building they love.'

Wow!

It's huge, and quite a challenge.

Some people are scared by these big open spaces.

'I'll be showing them a finished church with all the mod cons.'

Now, that is thinking outside the box!

And we'll be following the property detectives

who track down the owners of forgotten homes and bring the buildings back to life.

Somebody has tried to take the copper piping.

The ceiling has obviously come down as they've ripped the piping out.

When Diana Christie and her electrician partner Rowley Belcher

set eyes on this 20th century Roman Catholic church in Guildford, Surrey,

it was love at first sight.

When we saw the church, it was just beautiful.

It's white, it's a lovely design.

It's a huge empty hall with beautiful light coming through the windows.

We went up to the balcony upstairs

and we just looked across the expanse of the church

and we were just blown away by it, weren't we?

Beautiful on the outside and beautiful on the inside.

It was a no-brainer to have a go.

I just hope we've made the right decision.

Having lain empty for five years, when it was put up for auction,

there was its usual amount of interest from the local community.

Half of Surrey wanted the property.

It was really of interest to lots of people.

But we thought we'd offer the full price before it went to auction

so we could be sure of getting it.

Diana and Rowley were so eager to have the church,

they bought it without planning permission.

One of our biggest concerns is that we have to get change of use for the property.

We are concerned that if we don't get that, we'll have to move

to plan B, and we will have to think of what plan B will be.

The couple are moving into rented accommodation until they obtain planning permission,

then they intend to live on a caravan on site once the build begins.

The huge opportunity to create something wonderful

out of a structure that is already there is amazing.

We've just got a clean canvas to paint a picture on

that we want to paint.

There's no question, we just have to do this.

I've come to Guildford to meet Diana and Rowley to find out more about their plans.

-Hi, guys. I'm Joe.

-Rowland.

-Diana, how are you?

-Hi, Joe.

Loads to talk about. I can't wait to see the space.

-Let's pop inside, shall we?

-Let's, yes.

The couple spent £495,000 on the building

and plan to spend 150,000 on the renovations.

Wow.

It's huge. I can almost hear the echo.

It is an unusual building. Quite a challenge.

Some people are really scared by these big open spaces.

What attracted you to this place?

Buildings have to have a wow factor, don't they?

And this has a wow factor without even doing anything to it.

So, we just wondered through the door and it was wow,

and then it was, oh, what have we done?

-Yes, there's the wow factor and then there's the challenge.

-Yes, it is so huge

and it's a big opportunity but it's also a big risk for us, too.

'The plan is for the church to become a five bedroom home,

'large enough for Diana's two grown-up sons to come and stay.

'The couple also hope to add a mezzanine level

to maximise the extensive headroom.

The only downside to that is where we place it, in terms of the windows

so that we've got enough headroom above.

It might mean breaking the windows at some point.

That's a really tricky one.

The windows have got these lovely stone frames to them,

they're an original feature.

We wouldn't change that, but it's just doing it sympathetically.

Exactly. That's quite a challenge.

So, the big issue is planning, I suppose.

It's quite scary to think about what we would need to do

if we don't get change of use, and it IS a big gamble.

-One you're aware of.

-Absolutely aware.

That's what keeps me awake at night.

While they wait to hear from the council,

Diana and Rowley are optimistically developing their plans

to turn the church into a home.

The downstairs will remain open plan

and become a large family living area with electrician Rowley

doing a lot of the work himself

to make the most of their modest budget.

Right, this is the business end of the church.

Plenty of original features - you've got the altar, you've got the stained-glass window.

And two rooms off either side. What would these have been?

This was where they did all the baptisms and at the other side was the confessional.

So, if you've got anything you want to tell us, you can tell us in there.

Will you use these rooms? Obviously, you will.

The initial idea is to have that side for the kitchen

and the other side, possibly as a formal lounge

or somewhere we can relax in.

So, the only bit we haven't seen is upstairs.

I suppose, if we go up to the mezzanine there, is that an organ loft?

It used to be the organ. They didn't leave it behind.

-OK.

-I'd have loved to...

-No tinkling!

-But we can get a sense of what it's like to be on a first floor.

-Yes.

OK, let's go up there.

Right.

Actually, this is really useful

to visualise the height of the building.

It feels great up here. It feels like you've got plenty of headroom.

So, you know a mezzanine floor can fit in, for a start.

And this works perfectly, doesn't it?

Your side windows might not do you favours

-but from being up here now, you know this works really well.

-Yeah.

We envisage this being the main bedroom,

one of the master bedrooms.

And the mezzanine floor gives you a good idea of where that might fall

to make use of the space.

But it also makes it real to see how big the building is.

-Yeah, exactly.

-It's huge.

To help you with this, later, we're going to see a similar property

that's been through all sorts of planning complications and battles.

I think it's a really good example for you to look at.

But also, I want you to meet the guy who has been through it.

He is you a couple of years down the line, so hopefully,

he'll have really useful tips and some practical advice for you.

Fantastic. We're really looking forward to meeting somebody

who's done what we'll be doing in the future.

And to know that he survived the experience and lived another day.

Yes. A positive outlook there, as well.

Well, the church is a stunning space.

You can see why Diana and Rowland were captivated by it.

A really exciting project from that point of view and I think

the guy we're going to meet later might just have a few wise words.

Across Britain, there are many places like this

just waiting to be discovered and brought back to life.

When you notice an empty property, you often ask yourself,

Why is it abandoned? How long has it been like that? And who are the owners?

Well, it's the job of empty property officers to answer those questions

and more importantly,

to oversee the process of bringing neglected homes back into use.

Sue Lee is the empty property officer

for Amber Valley, where she deals with over 1,000 empty homes.

When I see a really dilapidated empty property, I like to see potential -

potential for the owner, potential for a family home,

potential to improve the appearance for the local community.

Today, Sue is on her way to an unusual case,

a new-build home that was nearing completion when its owner

fell into financial difficulties and abandoned the project.

Since it was left empty, Sue has managed to track down the owner

and has been working with him to get the home finished and lived in.

So, I'm here today to see if the owner has actually done

what he said he will do.

This will be the moment of truth. If not,

I'm going to have to get a bit tougher with him.

After a quick survey of the front of the property,

first impressions aren't very encouraging.

Well, the owner has done bit and bobs I've asked for.

But there's still the more difficult things that are outstanding.

Covering up a smashed window. Putting the downpipe in there.

And the guttering over there that is still smashed.

-Does it attract any problems at all to the area?

-Well, certainly.

It's effecting the value of all the properties in the area.

Myself, I've had the house on the market before and people were just driving away.

Also, we've had vagrants.

Youths with rolled up sleeping bags.

So, it has attracted quite a lot of problems over the last few years,

yes, yes.

Unhappy with the progress and determined to get this

wasted home lived in, it's time for Sue to get tough.

What I need to see from the owner is that there is a time-bound plan

to do the work that I've asked.

Sue has now spoken to the owner who is also keen to get

the property lived in and has agreed to carry out the necessary works.

Finding an empty home in the right location at the right price

can be just the beginning of a long and arduous journey

but with a good amount of imagination and hard graft,

really, anything is possible.

Back in 2003, retired businessmen John Hondle

was looking for a renovation project to put his heart and soul into.

When he saw this Grade II listed Georgian manor house

with stunning views over Warwickshire, it ticked every box.

The house was originally built in 1792 for a local dignitary.

It was empty for two years

before John fell in love with its antiquated charm.

When we first viewed the house, it was pretty horrific.

Very, very neglected.

But that's exactly what we were looking for.

John paid £930,000 and had a budget of 500,000

to spend on this ambitious restoration.

The beauty of it, as a challenge,

is that although it had been badly neglected,

it was clear that there were still many significant features there

such as the wood paddling in the dining room, the chandeliers,

the ceiling roses, etc,

it had obviously been a very, very beautiful house in the past.

We tried to retain as many of those features as we could

but tried to wean it off the 19th century and into the 21st century.

For John, this restoration is an ever evolving process.

You don't have to think of a project like this as having

a beginning, a middle and an end, it's ongoing.

There's always something to do in a house like this.

There is always a little improvement that you can make.

But it's great, it keeps you interested

and the more you do,

the more you wrap the house around your own character

and your own being and the more it becomes a part of you,

and that's wonderful.

After six years of hard work,

John is now enjoying the fruits of his labour.

I love all the rooms, I love every part of this house,

I guess my favourite is the master bedroom.

A 30-mile view over to Birmingham and Worcester beyond. Wonderful.

And it looks like John has got the restoration bug.

Would I do a similar project again? For sure.

Across rural Britain,

there are hundreds of remote buildings lying empty and abandoned,

many, the relics of a different age in British farming,

a reminder of where people lived and worked the land.

Today, I've come to the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales

to meet a couple who are looking to take their passion

for rescuing derelict buildings

and preserving local architecture to a whole new level.

Roger Mears and Joanie Speers are husband-and-wife founders of

a new building preservation trust, Adfer Ban a Chwm, or ABC for short.

Concerned with the lack of housing for young people in the area and

intent on preserving traditional agricultural buildings,

they've come up with a radical solution that will both

rescue these beautiful structures and help ease the housing crisis.

These buildings are here for the time being

but they're not going to last for ever.

Once they are gone, they are gone.

It's getting to last hours on so many of them, we've got to get them now.

And how involved are the community in that process?

Is this you coming in with a couple of builders you've sourced

or is it a bigger process than that?

No, no, it's very much bringing the community with us.

Our first meeting,

was on April 1 two years ago.

-No joke.

-Middle of lambing season, no joke,

middle of lambing season, farmers are lambing -

we haven't got time to do anything else! 50 people turned up.

-That's a small community, so that's pretty good.

-Half the community.

In a world where so many developments are developer led,

how are you different to that?

At the end of the day, when we finish repairing the building,

we're going to pass it on to a housing association

who will manage it and keep it within the affordable market.

But we're going to have to raise more money than we're going to get at the end of the day

and that's where the conservation gap or the funding gap is,

-and that's the real challenge.

-And that's why you're a charity.

You're not developers, you're going to do this at huge cost,

which you have to raise, and then sell it at another huge cost,

you lose money on it, it's not a money-spinner in any sense.

But you passionately believe it's worth it

for the legacy that these buildings can bring?

We believe that the time spent in this should really repay itself...

-Over time.

-..of people actually being able to stay within the community

and live in buildings that their forbears lived in. It's wonderful.

A daunting challenge but let's finish with some good news

because you have had some encouragement with your funding applications?

Yes, we've just heard a couple of days ago

that the Brecon Beacons National Park Sustainable Development Fund

is wanting to support us and will support us.

This will be subject to our being successful with a really big bid

that we put into the Heritage Lottery Fund which we'll hear about in a few weeks.

Wish you the best of luck. It's a very brave thing to do but ultimately,

a very worthwhile thing, as well.

-So, really, good luck.

-Thanks.

-Thank you very much.

I've got great admiration for Roger and Joanie's determination

to change the fortunes of buildings like this.

Really heart-warming to think it could once again be a family home.

And yes, of course, it's an extremely long term aim

but if anyone's got the passion

to change that vision into a fantastic reality,

I think it might just be them.

Earlier, I met Diana Christie

and Rowley Belcher who bought an empty church in Guildford

with the hope of turning it into a family home.

With lots of renovation and planning questions on their mind,

I'm taking them to meet a man who realised his dream

and turned a forgotten church into it quirky, modern bachelor pad.

Well, guys, this is it.

-First impressions, quite a match, huh?

-Wow.

Angel Guerrero picked up this 200-year-old empty church

ten years ago for £160,000.

When this real-life guardian angel first opened the church's doors,

it was dark, dank and desperately in need of someone with vision

and drive to bring it back to life.

When I originally got the place, I was told it had been empty for about nine years.

It looked like a spooky old building from one of those horror movies and

I thought, wow, this is lovely, you could really do something with this.

And the good thing is four solid walls, the roof needed

a little bit of work and the rest is what you wanted to make of it.

I thought, wow, knock everything out and just start from a big empty space.

Former car salesman Angel had no experience of property renovation

but was up for the challenge

and completed the entire build by himself,

hiring in manual labourers only to help him with the heavy lifting.

To do the floating platform, that was, I think, the biggest challenge.

I've got four steel beams that I had to bring in through the front door

and they weigh about two tons each.

So, with trolley jacks,

a little winch and stuff,

we brought them in.

And then, to lift them up, that was another feat in itself.

But we got there in the end.

The entire renovation took him eight years to complete.

Nothing is rocket science in the building trade.

It's just, er, finding out how to do stuff on the internet

and working out how to make it.

But doing it himself meant he saved thousands of pounds

that he would have spent on tradesmen.

The staircase I was quoted £14,000 for.

I ended up buying the wood, I think the wood came to about £360

and it worked out well.

And starting afresh gave Angel

the freedom to let his imagination run wild.

I just love making things that are weird and wonderful and different.

It's not something that you can do in a normal house.

The result is a bespoke, fun living space,

completely unique to its owner.

After all this hard work,

it's an amazing place to come home to at night.

It feels like home.

It's taken a long time to get to feel like home

but it's there now and I love the place.

Angel worked alongside an officer from English Heritage

to safeguard the original features of the church,

preserving the exterior that dates back to 1837.

Inside, he's married the old with the new,

introducing a floating platform,

installing multicoloured fluorescent lighting and making the most of

the ample headroom to showcase his vintage motorbike collection.

Come through and see this.

Wow-wee!

This is amazing.

Isn't it something. Step into this space, see how it feels.

Including the bike.

Bikes, kitchens, altars, it is amazing, isn't it?

Crikey. It certainly is.

Dare we touch on the dreaded subject of planning?

The biggest problem is every time I put plans in,

they would take nine months to say no.

How did you get around that? Is there any practical advice,

in terms of trying to make the planning application process

as efficient as possible, from your side of things?

You've got, I think, eight weeks before you can put in an appeal.

The day after, I'd put in an appeal. I wouldn't even wait two days.

So, if you haven't heard, you're saying,

challenge the process slightly by putting the appeal in to make it maybe rise up the priority list?

Go in and see them, have a chat with them. That's the best way.

One of Angel's major planning achievements was being granted

permission to change the stained glass for clear panels

and to glaze a section of roof, allowing natural light

to stream into the building for the first time.

The amount of light you get in here, it must be a joy.

Yeah, it is, it's lovely.

So, how does it feel when you're cooking and looking out on that?

It's great. It's an inspiration to do more cooking.

On the practical side of things, how do you stop a whole church

steaming up when you make pasta or something?

Well, it's quite simple.

You just flick the switch and the extractor comes up.

Now, that's thinking outside the box.

That's really clever. It shows you, as well,

you're going to come up against all sorts of problems

but you don't have to suddenly think, I've got to have a big extractor.

You can find a solution. It's a good time to be doing this.

There's a lot of technology that can help you

get out of some tricky situations.

And it's also a good use of the time spent waiting for planning,

you can start researching the detail of what you want to do.

I think we've learned from this kitchen - bold and modern

can actually accentuate the old gothic style

so I think that's something to bear in mind, especially with the style of your building.

-Great. Shall we see some more?

-Yeah.

-Come on, then.

Upstairs, the floating platform becomes Angel's main living area,

complete with glass balconies to maximise the light

and views of his grand refurbishment.

Next door is one of four bedrooms he's created.

-Right, so, I guess this is the master bedroom, is it?

-Yeah.

My eye is immediately drawn to this. We've talked a bit about windows

-but this is an example of where you had to cut the window in half?

-Yeah.

I didn't have any options, really, to make the four bedrooms.

I didn't want to cut any more windows than I had to so, two had to go.

And from the outside, I made it look as narrow as possible,

the cut, so the floor tapers to the end.

As you get to the window, it goes down to about six inches and then,

there's a stained glass window on the outside to disguise that, as well.

-That's a good tip.

-A really good idea.

Your windows are a little... well, a lot higher than ours but that's a really good way around it.

These guys have it all ahead of them.

Looking back on what you've been through,

any kind of last advice you'd like to impart their way?

Well, the lovely thing is you've got a blank canvas,

you can let your mind run wild, you can do anything and everything.

It's just coming up with ideas, so just keep on top

and carry on going.

We're really looking forward to it.

Thank you for letting us see your lovely home.

Pleasure.

Back in Amber Valley, empty property officer Sue Lee

is on a mission to save Britain's abandoned homes.

She's on her way is to an affluent area outside of Derby

to respond to complaints about an empty house.

The empty has been on Sue's radar for five years

but this is the first time she's received official complaints.

I can see why the neighbours

are concerned about the garden looking overgrown at the front.

It just all adds to the view that it's not cared for,

that nobody's been here for a while

and that nobody's trying to maintain it.

Sue's main objective is to check if the place is secure.

Oh, gosh.

I thought for one minute that was going to open.

It must be locked at the top.

But it's at the other side of the house

that Sue discovers something of far greater concern.

There's a window that has been smashed here.

The back door is open so you can just wander straight into the house.

As Sue continues to explore,

it seems that whoever has broken in has not left empty-handed.

Oh. Right. It looks like...

..somebody has tried to take the copper piping at some point.

The ceiling's come down as they've ripped the piping out.

Because there are pipes still remaining,

I really need to get this property secured and get that window bordered

so there's no access again into the house.

Having completed her investigation, Sue needs to decide

on the best plan of action to make the house secure and to get it back into use again.

What I need to do is go back to the owner,

get them to secure the property,

tidy it up,

make it look a lot better in the interim

before they bring it back into use.

If the owner doesn't do what I ask voluntarily,

then I'll be serving legal notices.

If they don't comply with those, we'll do the work ourselves

and we'll recharge that back to the owner.

If the owner doesn't pay that, we'll be enforcing sale of it.

Back in Surrey, Diana and Rowley

have been visiting a converted church,

getting inspiration for their own project.

Ah! Well, today, that's quite a property to look around, isn't it?

How has it been for you? Have you found it inspiring?

It's been absolutely amazing, a wonderful experience.

Seeing what can be done

and the fact that he's done most of it himself is amazing.

So, it's a hard act to follow but lots and lots of good advice.

And with planning, it is going to be a battle for you but he is saying

you can have the perfect home at the end of it if you do it right.

I think that the buildings that he has and that we have

are special buildings so, it's worth waiting for.

So, we're prepared to wait and take as long as it needs.

Guys, I wish you the best of luck from the bottom of my heart.

-I'm sure you will do a great job. Hang in there.

-Thank you.

Well, it's been delightful to show Diana and Rowland

this incredibly unique place.

Hopefully, it's going to help them overcome some of the big problems they face,

namely, how you create and live on two floors in a building really only ever designed for one.

Now, of course, it's going to take some careful planning

and lots of hard work to get permission to change their church into a residential dwelling

but fingers crossed they can get through that soon

and quickly begin work

on the home they desperately want to create together.

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