0:00:02 > 0:00:06Across the country empty properties that could be homes are just waiting to be brought back into use.
0:00:06 > 0:00:09I'll be finding out why and what you need to do
0:00:09 > 0:00:11to rescue a house for yourself.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14And along the way we'll be following the property detectives
0:00:14 > 0:00:17who track down the owners of these forgotten houses
0:00:17 > 0:00:20and help breathe new life into the communities blighted by them.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23And I'll be doing some digging of my own to find out more about
0:00:23 > 0:00:25our housing stock, our heritage,
0:00:25 > 0:00:28and why we should both be preserving and reinventing
0:00:28 > 0:00:30Britain's empty homes.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43Taking on a big renovation of an empty property
0:00:43 > 0:00:46is a job that requires careful consideration.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49It's a hard slog with plenty of stress
0:00:49 > 0:00:52and yet if you speak to most people who've been through it
0:00:52 > 0:00:56they'll tell you it's all worthwhile in the end.
0:01:00 > 0:01:05On today's show I'll be meeting a family who've outgrown their current home
0:01:05 > 0:01:09and want to take on the challenge of a much bigger but derelict dwelling.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12I'll meet a passionate group of volunteers
0:01:12 > 0:01:17who are hoping to bring a spectacular building back into the community.
0:01:17 > 0:01:18It's desperate now.
0:01:18 > 0:01:23We must get this project underway urgently in the next 12, 18 months.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28And we'll be following one of Britain's Empty Property Officers
0:01:28 > 0:01:32working to bring forgotten houses back into use.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34It's quite a poor building block construction,
0:01:34 > 0:01:37it's not even close to meeting any form of building regs.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43This three-bedroom house in Surrey is home to
0:01:43 > 0:01:45Stuart and Helen Barclay,
0:01:45 > 0:01:48two-year old Ben and new addition, baby Skye.
0:01:50 > 0:01:54As the family has grown so too has their need for space
0:01:54 > 0:01:58and now the Barclays are gearing up to take on the challenge
0:01:58 > 0:02:01of an abandoned abode that they can custom renovate.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05At the moment we've got quite a nice location, it's quite rural,
0:02:05 > 0:02:07it's quite nice looking out into the woods.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10Unfortunately there's no room to expand it.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Not only do they plan to take on a sizeable renovation,
0:02:13 > 0:02:15but their love of the outdoors
0:02:15 > 0:02:18has inspired them to up sticks and relocate to a rural location
0:02:18 > 0:02:21like the Peak District or the Yorkshire Dales.
0:02:22 > 0:02:23We love the outdoors,
0:02:23 > 0:02:27we both climb, we do walking and things like that,
0:02:27 > 0:02:30and we want the children to be able to enjoy that,
0:02:30 > 0:02:35and obviously it's a bit cheaper up north than here in Surrey.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40Stuart carried out a lot of work on their current home,
0:02:40 > 0:02:44but he's never taken on the challenge of a full-scale renovation.
0:02:44 > 0:02:47It's a bit daunting, I suppose.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51I've got friends that can do a lot of the work that I can't do as well,
0:02:51 > 0:02:56so between me and contacts that I've got I'm sure I can complete the project.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58I like the idea of just making it our own as well,
0:02:58 > 0:03:00putting our own stamp on it, decorating it,
0:03:00 > 0:03:05in how we see fit and what we like. That sort of appeals to me.
0:03:07 > 0:03:10While Helen looks after the children, I'm meeting Stuart
0:03:10 > 0:03:14at a derelict paper mill I'm keen for him to see in Loxley, Sheffield.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17It should give him an idea
0:03:17 > 0:03:19of how far his £400,000 budget will go
0:03:19 > 0:03:25and the amount of work needed to turn a derelict building into a family home.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29- Hey, Stuart. How you doing? - Hello, very good, thank you. - Good to see you.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31Now this is the place I want to show you.
0:03:31 > 0:03:32First impressions?
0:03:32 > 0:03:33It looks really nice.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36- Lovely location around here. - Huge potential this place has.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38- Right. - Shall we go and have a look inside?
0:03:38 > 0:03:40- Yeah, quite excited. - OK, come on then.
0:03:42 > 0:03:43The mill was built in the 18th century
0:03:43 > 0:03:46and has been empty for the last four years.
0:03:50 > 0:03:52It has Grade II listed status
0:03:52 > 0:03:55and crucially it already has planning permission.
0:03:58 > 0:03:59So...
0:03:59 > 0:04:01- Wow!- Here we are.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03Much bigger than I thought it would be.
0:04:03 > 0:04:07- It reaches out a lot further than it looks from the outside.- Yes.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09- Shall we have a closer look? - Definitely.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14So, Stuart, as we wander through this place
0:04:14 > 0:04:16what strikes you about it?
0:04:16 > 0:04:18First and foremost how big it is,
0:04:18 > 0:04:21and how many rooms and how much space I can create from it all.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24It is huge. Does that put you off? Some people are daunted by it.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Not really, I've got a blank canvas I can work from,
0:04:27 > 0:04:30so I'm quite excited by it all, really.
0:04:30 > 0:04:32There's some great features, you got the original beams,
0:04:32 > 0:04:34and great stone all around.
0:04:34 > 0:04:38And then, the piece de resistance, you've actually got your own water wheel through there.
0:04:38 > 0:04:41- That is phenomenal, isn't it? - It's amazing.
0:04:41 > 0:04:43Let's talk about your experience.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45- You've done a bit of renovation before.- That's right, yes.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48Particularly useful here when it comes to stretching the budget.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52Absolutely. By doing a lot of the work myself that saves a lot of money.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54- Good. Let's continue having a look round, shall we?- OK.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00There is no denying this mill is brimming with potential.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03It's size and original features are impressive
0:05:03 > 0:05:06and if Stuart can see past the rubble and ruins
0:05:06 > 0:05:08the possibilities are infinite.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13The mill includes an adjacent building
0:05:13 > 0:05:16which is also covered under the same planning permission.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21When you come in here it's clear these premises are never ending, isn't it?
0:05:21 > 0:05:23It's phenomenal. It just seems to go on and on.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26This has got to be 50 metres from one end to the other.
0:05:26 > 0:05:28It's got potential for a second property, as well, to be built.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31Funny you should say that because this place, the whole place,
0:05:31 > 0:05:35- does have planning permission to create three dwellings.- OK.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37Two in the main mill area,
0:05:37 > 0:05:39creating a courtyard in between,
0:05:39 > 0:05:40and then this.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43The thing to say that's really important is this whole mill
0:05:43 > 0:05:46- is Grade II listed.- OK. - That would possibly
0:05:46 > 0:05:49place some restrictions on what you could or couldn't do.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51Have you ever thought about taking on a listed place?
0:05:51 > 0:05:53I haven't, it's a little bit daunting,
0:05:53 > 0:05:55but in some ways I guess the council
0:05:55 > 0:05:57wants to return it back to a liveable property,
0:05:57 > 0:05:58it's a waste standing here derelict.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00What is the budget?
0:06:00 > 0:06:02The budget is about £400,000 in total,
0:06:02 > 0:06:05that would include the purchase and the renovation costs.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07Give or take a little bit.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10Well, the price that this is on the market for,
0:06:10 > 0:06:12- it's on at £300,000.- OK.
0:06:12 > 0:06:14How does that sound?
0:06:14 > 0:06:16That sounds good, that's certainly within my budget
0:06:16 > 0:06:18and gives me quite a large margin left over to play with
0:06:18 > 0:06:21to at least start and get some way with the renovations as well.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23Right, so you have got these things sorted out,
0:06:23 > 0:06:25you are serious about this.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28- Absolutely, we've got some ideas and some plans.- Very exciting.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32Having looked around, how do you feel about a whole place?
0:06:32 > 0:06:36Yes, is a very interesting opportunity, really interesting.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39- You are going into this with a young family.- Yes.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43Possibly them and your wife in a different part of the country if you were doing this renovation.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45What sort of problems would that throw up?
0:06:45 > 0:06:48I guess one of the problems will be convincing Helen it's a good idea,
0:06:48 > 0:06:51and making it a safe habitable place for the children as quickly as possible
0:06:51 > 0:06:54so that we're not spending weeks and weeks apart.
0:06:54 > 0:06:56What I want to do is take you to an old property
0:06:56 > 0:06:59that has been thoroughly converted and is now a home, it's an old barn.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02The people behind it have been through all the challenges
0:07:02 > 0:07:04you were talking about so they would be good people to meet
0:07:04 > 0:07:08and hopefully they can help you along your way with a bit of help and advice.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10- How does that sound? - Really good, yes.- Excellent.
0:07:12 > 0:07:14Many areas across the UK
0:07:14 > 0:07:17are blighted by disowned and derelict buildings,
0:07:17 > 0:07:18often becoming an eyesore
0:07:18 > 0:07:22and a source of concern for the local community.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24But there are a dedicated band of officers
0:07:24 > 0:07:26employed by councils who work tirelessly
0:07:26 > 0:07:28to find out why these buildings have been abandoned
0:07:28 > 0:07:30and to get them lived in again.
0:07:32 > 0:07:37In Richmond, Southwest London, Jason Hall is doing just that.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40He's investigating two houses on the long-term abandoned list.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43Today, I'm basically going to have a look to see
0:07:43 > 0:07:46if I can get access to the back of the property, have a look around,
0:07:46 > 0:07:50to see if I can get some more information with regards to the properties.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54Both houses have been vacant for at least ten years.
0:07:54 > 0:07:59And as they're right next door to each other they're attracting some unwanted attention.
0:08:04 > 0:08:06It's very overgrown to the front.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08We got the trees growing right up the front,
0:08:08 > 0:08:11you can see where the wall has been pushed over here.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13I'll have a knock and see if anybody's there.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16KNOCKS ON DOOR
0:08:16 > 0:08:20Let's see if there's any other ways to get round the back.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24That gate appears to be locked.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26So I can probably get better access,
0:08:26 > 0:08:30we'll probably have a better chance of getting round the back of the other one.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33At the beginning of an investigation
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Jason wants to confirm the neighbours' complaints
0:08:35 > 0:08:37and identify an owner.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43And the grievances from locals all suggest
0:08:43 > 0:08:46there is a major vermin problem in both gardens
0:08:46 > 0:08:49and the rear of the houses may not be secure.
0:08:51 > 0:08:56Right, we've got a whole pane of glass missing out of this back door.
0:08:56 > 0:08:57All of the ceiling is out.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00It needs to be made secure because somebody could gain access
0:09:00 > 0:09:04and perhaps get injured in the state the property's in if they get into it.
0:09:04 > 0:09:07So, it's a shame because it could be a lovely family house,
0:09:07 > 0:09:09it's a really good size,
0:09:09 > 0:09:12it's a bit of a mystery as to why they're both empty.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16But they may not be as deserted as Jason thinks.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19There's a fox right down the bottom of the garden,
0:09:19 > 0:09:22just going under the fence into next door.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25Didn't bolt off or anything, it was quite happy,
0:09:25 > 0:09:29so I'm going to try and make my way down and see what else is down the bottom of the garden.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34It's become clear a major network of fox tunnels
0:09:34 > 0:09:37has taken over this garden and the neighbouring one.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41Basically we've got a whole fox den network here.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45We've got holes everywhere where they all burrow underneath.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48This is an absolute fox haven.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52Without access to the house next door
0:09:52 > 0:09:56there's only one way for Jason to inspect the damage.
0:09:58 > 0:10:00The next door garden is exactly the same,
0:10:00 > 0:10:02it's not quite as overgrown
0:10:02 > 0:10:05but there's quite a lot of activity with regards to the foxes.
0:10:05 > 0:10:06There's quite a few holes.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11This is probably one of the worst cases
0:10:11 > 0:10:13I've ever seen with regards to foxes.
0:10:13 > 0:10:15The amount of holes there are,
0:10:15 > 0:10:18they're going under either side into both side properties.
0:10:18 > 0:10:19So it's really important
0:10:19 > 0:10:23that I find who the owner is and get this sorted as soon as possible.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26Jason is keen to find out all he can about the owners
0:10:26 > 0:10:29so he puts a call into the office.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32I just need the ownership details for each one.
0:10:32 > 0:10:33OK.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37Yeah, that's fantastic, thank you. Bye.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40The two properties that we've been and looked at
0:10:40 > 0:10:43are both owned by individual people,
0:10:43 > 0:10:45that are, we believe, are business partners.
0:10:45 > 0:10:50One of them has got quite a large debt lodged against it,
0:10:50 > 0:10:53and one of them has been repossessed.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56The only forwarding contact details and address that we've got
0:10:56 > 0:10:58are the actual properties themselves.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02So it's kind of difficult to try and track down the owners
0:11:02 > 0:11:06when we don't have any other means of forwarding address.
0:11:06 > 0:11:11Other options we've got are potential for sale or compulsory purchase order.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18Jason has since written to the owners and is awaiting a response
0:11:18 > 0:11:20before he takes further action.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28Empty properties come in all shapes and sizes
0:11:28 > 0:11:30and various states of dilapidation,
0:11:30 > 0:11:32but the one thing they have in common
0:11:32 > 0:11:38is their potential to inspire creative thinkers who can see past the decay.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41So if you can view a run-down ruin with optimistic eyes
0:11:41 > 0:11:45then you too might just discover your perfect home.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50Seasoned renovators Michael and Jill Willetts
0:11:50 > 0:11:52are used to doing just that.
0:11:52 > 0:11:56When they saw two run-down 17th century mill cottages for sale,
0:11:56 > 0:12:00they instantly saw their potential as one big family home.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04It looked like an awful lot of work.
0:12:04 > 0:12:07I mean, no-one had lived in the house for about three years.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11It was dark, damp, it was falling apart.
0:12:11 > 0:12:17But, I think we could see through that and with plenty of work we could turn it into something.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19But it was going to be a big, big project.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22This house was built in 1683
0:12:22 > 0:12:23and we wanted to retain
0:12:23 > 0:12:28the history and the character of it, but bring it into the 21st century.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37The couple spent over £600,000 buying the cottages
0:12:37 > 0:12:40set on two acres of garden and woodland.
0:12:43 > 0:12:4615 months and £300,000 later
0:12:46 > 0:12:49they have a stunning yet sympathetic modern home.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55And the icing on the cake is the River Rother running through the garden.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01Even with four previous renovations under their belt,
0:13:01 > 0:13:07the Willetts weren't immune to the trials and tribulations of a project of this scale.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09When you're doing something like this
0:13:09 > 0:13:10you have to think on your feet,
0:13:10 > 0:13:15and you have to be prepared to change direction very, very quickly.
0:13:15 > 0:13:20Because something will crop up that was totally unforeseen.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23Probably the biggest low point was on my 50th birthday.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26My mother, sister and brother-in-law had come down from York.
0:13:26 > 0:13:30My mother couldn't see or envisage what we were trying to do,
0:13:30 > 0:13:33but I remember we came to the back door and she said to me,
0:13:33 > 0:13:35"I can hear water running."
0:13:35 > 0:13:38And I thought, "Isn't it wonderful?
0:13:38 > 0:13:41"We've got a river running through the garden, that's what you can hear."
0:13:41 > 0:13:45She said, "No, I'm sure the water's coming from inside the house."
0:13:45 > 0:13:48So I opened the door and sure enough the ceiling had come down,
0:13:48 > 0:13:50floods everywhere, pipes had burst,
0:13:50 > 0:13:51it was a really cold winter,
0:13:51 > 0:13:56and that was probably the down point on my 50th birthday.
0:13:56 > 0:13:58What had we really taken on here?
0:13:59 > 0:14:04With the renovation behind them, Michael and Jill couldn't have hoped for a better outcome.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07We've achieved what we set out to do.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09This house will be standing
0:14:09 > 0:14:12in the another 350 years, most likely, long after we've gone.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15And I think we've done our bit in its history,
0:14:15 > 0:14:18and we've brought it up to date.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20It is a really beautiful family home
0:14:20 > 0:14:23in an absolutely stunning part of the world.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25We are very lucky to live here.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32In North West Lancashire a spectacular building
0:14:32 > 0:14:34that was on the brink of ruin
0:14:34 > 0:14:38has been saved by an inspiring group of locals.
0:14:38 > 0:14:44Bank Hall is part-Jacobean mansion originally built in the 1600s
0:14:44 > 0:14:46and extended during the 19th century.
0:14:47 > 0:14:52Various titled families lived in this imposing building during its heyday.
0:14:52 > 0:14:53Vacant since the 1970s,
0:14:53 > 0:14:58Bank Hall has been on a downward spiral ever since.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02However, more recently the fortunes of this grand old building
0:15:02 > 0:15:03have changed for the better,
0:15:03 > 0:15:06thanks to an organised group of local people
0:15:06 > 0:15:09who are determined to bring it back in from the cold
0:15:09 > 0:15:10and put it to good use.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15Over the last 17 years a passionate group of volunteers
0:15:15 > 0:15:19has worked tirelessly to save this historic landmark.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21I'm here to meet Janet Edwards,
0:15:21 > 0:15:23chairwoman of the Bank Hall Action Group.
0:15:26 > 0:15:28How is it, it's got to this state?
0:15:28 > 0:15:30Well, it's got into this state
0:15:30 > 0:15:31because it a massive building
0:15:31 > 0:15:34and there's limited use for a building of this nature
0:15:34 > 0:15:35in the 21st century.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38So it's finding alternative uses for these old buildings
0:15:38 > 0:15:41and I think that's been the big challenge.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43So what is the plan, what's the strategy?
0:15:43 > 0:15:47To develop this building into a series of apartments and two houses.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50But the central part of the building, including the Prospect Tower,
0:15:50 > 0:15:52will be for the public to have access to.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55However, this is a listed building,
0:15:55 > 0:15:57and so visually the external fabric
0:15:57 > 0:16:00will look like the beautiful building that it once was.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03How urgent is this? Is this deteriorating day-by-day?
0:16:03 > 0:16:07- It looks like a should be because there is no roofs, no windows. - No, it's desperate now.
0:16:07 > 0:16:12we must get this project underway urgently in the next 12, 18 months.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14Buildings aren't static,
0:16:14 > 0:16:16they do evolve over the years.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18And although it would be lovely
0:16:18 > 0:16:19to wrap it in mothballs
0:16:19 > 0:16:21and take it back to a previous time
0:16:21 > 0:16:23that is not going to happen.
0:16:23 > 0:16:25So it will be a building that has changed.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27But I still think there is beauty
0:16:27 > 0:16:30in what we'll have when it is finally restored.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33Through sheer passion for the building
0:16:33 > 0:16:36Janet and the action group have fund raised and campaigned
0:16:36 > 0:16:38to get Bank Hall back on its feet.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42They recently received the cash injection they need to get started -
0:16:42 > 0:16:46£1.6 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49But with total costs estimated at £6 million
0:16:49 > 0:16:51there's still a considerable shortfall.
0:16:53 > 0:16:57They've enlisted the help of regeneration expert Tom Fenton.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01To bridge the funding shortfall that exists
0:17:01 > 0:17:04we are doing a new build enabling development within the site.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08The profit that comes from the 23 homes we're going to create there
0:17:08 > 0:17:11will be put towards the shell repair here.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15That completes this building and the two cross-fund each other. That's how it works.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17And if we didn't do this, if it was another five years
0:17:17 > 0:17:20and the whole building had finally collapsed in on itself,
0:17:20 > 0:17:22what would be missing?
0:17:22 > 0:17:25What would people in this area lose?
0:17:25 > 0:17:29I think people would lose a building of extreme character.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31Too many buildings like this have been lost
0:17:31 > 0:17:34because people haven't cared about them and that's not the case here.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36There's a lot of people that care about it,
0:17:36 > 0:17:39but it's still an extremely difficult scheme to make work.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42It will take at least three years to complete
0:17:42 > 0:17:45this ambitious and inspiring rebuild
0:17:45 > 0:17:48bringing an abandoned building back to life.
0:17:50 > 0:17:52I'm with Stuart Barclay
0:17:52 > 0:17:53who, along with his family,
0:17:53 > 0:17:56hopes to up sticks and find a derelict building
0:17:56 > 0:17:58that they can renovate into a family home.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01We're just outside Chesterfield where I'm going to introduce him
0:18:01 > 0:18:04to a couple who've recently completed a project
0:18:04 > 0:18:06I feel sure will inspire.
0:18:06 > 0:18:08Stuart, this is the property I've brought you to see.
0:18:08 > 0:18:12Ignore these, these are farm buildings that have been lived in for some time.
0:18:12 > 0:18:13But the building right at the end there,
0:18:13 > 0:18:15that was a barn.
0:18:15 > 0:18:16About 400 years old.
0:18:16 > 0:18:19It's been fully converted into a home.
0:18:20 > 0:18:24Architect John Botham and his wife Debbie are the proud owners
0:18:24 > 0:18:28of this barn, which they share with daughters Kira and Lydia.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31It was a farm building.
0:18:31 > 0:18:36When we first came to it, it was still full of calves and corn.
0:18:36 > 0:18:41I was very dubious about the whole project, I suppose, to start with.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44John grew up on the farm where the barn stands
0:18:44 > 0:18:47so it's a place close to their hearts.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51As an architect, he could visualise what their dream home would look like,
0:18:51 > 0:18:54but it wasn't such an easy process for Debbie.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57John had told me the living room was going to be upstairs
0:18:57 > 0:18:59and the bedrooms were going to be downstairs,
0:18:59 > 0:19:03but that was about it. That was about as far as I could understand.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07I did find it very difficult to get it right in my mind.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10So it was quite hard for me to visualise it completely.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12It was a bit depressing because I'd invite Debbie
0:19:12 > 0:19:16and with great enthusiasm say, "Come and have a look. I've done this."
0:19:16 > 0:19:21And she'd say, "What's different?" And it was really frustrating.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23Until it was nearly finished, she couldn't really see it.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28It is an amazing place to live.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32I'm really lucky. I'm very lucky John designed it so beautifully
0:19:32 > 0:19:35and the surroundings that we're in...
0:19:35 > 0:19:37I mean, there's not very many people that can look
0:19:37 > 0:19:42out of a window like that and see such an enormous space around them.
0:19:42 > 0:19:45- It's a lovely house to live in. - It was the best thing to do.
0:19:45 > 0:19:46We really like it.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50John and Debbie's barn conversion and their experience will hopefully
0:19:50 > 0:19:53give Stuart some useful guidance and inspiration.
0:19:53 > 0:19:55John, it's lovely to walk in here for the first time
0:19:55 > 0:19:58as there's so much light and you've got this incredible height.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01Stuart, when you walk in here, what springs to mind?
0:20:01 > 0:20:05Fantastic. I like the fact it's got a really high, open plan ceiling.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07- It's really nice. - So, this is an extension?- Yes.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10- You've done it very sympathetically then.- Yes.
0:20:10 > 0:20:12You wouldn't get permission for it if it wasn't sympathetic,
0:20:12 > 0:20:15- not in the countryside. - So, tell me about that then.
0:20:15 > 0:20:17What advice have you got for Stuart?
0:20:17 > 0:20:21- The building we looked at earlier is grade II listed. I don't think this was listed.- No.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23But even so, you had to work very closely...
0:20:23 > 0:20:26What sort of advice do you have in terms of working with planners
0:20:26 > 0:20:28and I suppose compromising if you have to?
0:20:28 > 0:20:32Yeah, I suppose you do have to compromise, but the key thing is
0:20:32 > 0:20:35to understand the reasoning and the spirit of the thing.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39If it's listed, first, you need to find out why it's listed
0:20:39 > 0:20:42and what it is they're looking to preserve.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45- When you did this, you had two young girls.- Yes.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47And you have a young family as well.
0:20:47 > 0:20:50Any advice about taking a young family through this
0:20:50 > 0:20:52and living on-site, potentially, as well?
0:20:52 > 0:20:54It was a lot easier when we were living on-site.
0:20:54 > 0:20:58When we were living off-site, my wife didn't see much of me.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01But when we moved in, it would have been quite fun, we would have
0:21:01 > 0:21:04really enjoyed it except we set ourselves a deadline of Christmas
0:21:04 > 0:21:08to have the whole place finished, which put a lot of stress on it.
0:21:08 > 0:21:12OK. You've got a base you can have the family while you work.
0:21:12 > 0:21:15You don't necessarily have to have them living here.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17But if you do that, you might not see your family.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20I think that's one of the pitfalls. They're living down in Surrey,
0:21:20 > 0:21:23- I'm here working on the property... - You'd never see them at all.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26..which would obviously be quite a strain on the relationship.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29- That's something we need to work on and work out a compromise.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:21:29 > 0:21:33It took John and Debbie two years and £99,000
0:21:33 > 0:21:36to complete the renovation,
0:21:36 > 0:21:39which includes four bedrooms and an open-plan living room and kitchen.
0:21:39 > 0:21:44But the most interesting aspect of the renovation is its layout.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47So here we are upstairs and unusually this is where
0:21:47 > 0:21:49the kitchen and the living room is.
0:21:49 > 0:21:51So, explain how you ended up with that.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53What was the process of decision-making?
0:21:53 > 0:21:56There's lots of reasons why it's upside down.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00The roof up here is quite low, so if we'd tried to partition it off
0:22:00 > 0:22:02and put a corridor in it, it would have been very cramped and small.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04Stuart, how do you find this?
0:22:04 > 0:22:07It's lovely. I love the open plan-ness of it all. You can see
0:22:07 > 0:22:10from one end of the house right across to the other,
0:22:10 > 0:22:1320 to 30 metres away. It's really nice.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15Now, let's move on to budget.
0:22:15 > 0:22:17How much did you budget for this
0:22:17 > 0:22:19and then how much did it actually cost you?
0:22:19 > 0:22:26Well, my first budget was 82,000 and it ended up costing me 99.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29OK. Obviously, you did a lot of the work yourself.
0:22:29 > 0:22:30That's what Stuart would like to do.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33Anything else that is worth bearing in mind?
0:22:33 > 0:22:36You have to try and be creative with building and making things yourself.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39The staircase, which looks fantastic, we made
0:22:39 > 0:22:41- and it cost very little.- Wow.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43Stepping back from it,
0:22:43 > 0:22:45what is it you have to bear in mind all the way through?
0:22:45 > 0:22:48- What is it that keeps you sane?- When you see some piece of it finished
0:22:48 > 0:22:51and you stand back and look and think, "That looks really good,"
0:22:51 > 0:22:54it does give you that feeling of satisfaction.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02Back in Richmond, empty property officer Jason Hall
0:23:02 > 0:23:06is checking up on a large semi-detached house that's long been
0:23:06 > 0:23:08a thorn in the side of local residents.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14The owner is hoping to receive a grant from the council
0:23:14 > 0:23:16to turn the house into two flats.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19Before the grant can be given, Jason must find out
0:23:19 > 0:23:23if the owner has complied with the measures ordered by the council.
0:23:24 > 0:23:28From the outside, it looks like it's a building site in progress.
0:23:28 > 0:23:30This has been like this for six months now.
0:23:30 > 0:23:33There's still a huge amount of debris in the front here,
0:23:33 > 0:23:34plus there's some food stuff
0:23:34 > 0:23:38in and around. It all provides harbourage for rats or anything else.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41The site really needs to be kept tidy and kept secure
0:23:41 > 0:23:44and at the moment it's not. We've got a window open.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47There's clearly a list of works I need to pass on to the owner,
0:23:47 > 0:23:50things that he needs to comply with in the meantime.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53Over the last two years, a renovation has been under way.
0:23:53 > 0:23:58But Jason has some serious concerns about the work already done.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00Right. OK. Down the side here,
0:24:00 > 0:24:02we've got the extension off the original building.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05It's quite a poor building-block construction.
0:24:05 > 0:24:08On top of it, we've got chip-board construction, first floor.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10It doesn't match at all with the original building.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14It's not even close to meeting any form of building regs.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19To get a fuller picture of the current state of the house,
0:24:19 > 0:24:23Jason talks to those most affected by it.
0:24:25 > 0:24:27- Hiya.- Hello.- I'm Jason Hall.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30I'm from Richmond Council, empty property officer.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32I'm doing some investigations into next door.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34I'm just after some more information, really,
0:24:34 > 0:24:37on what the main issues are for yourself with it.
0:24:37 > 0:24:42Before it was all fenced off, I saw several people go into the property
0:24:42 > 0:24:48to have a look let alone to urinate and things like that as well.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51Certainly, in the last couple of days, I've seen
0:24:51 > 0:24:57a huge rat go past, coming from that property across my patio area.
0:24:57 > 0:25:01Now, if my baby was sat there, I would not be happy at all.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03There is action being taken and we will be dealing with it.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06So hopefully soon we'll have you living next to a nice property again
0:25:06 > 0:25:09instead of the one you're looking at at the moment.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12- Thank you.- OK.- Goodbye.- Bye-bye.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14'Now I've been to the property and carried out an inspection
0:25:14 > 0:25:16'and spoken to the neighbours as well,'
0:25:16 > 0:25:18now all I need to do is go back to the office
0:25:18 > 0:25:21and put together a schedule of works so I can get it off
0:25:21 > 0:25:24to the owner ASAP so he can carry out the works as soon as possible.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27Work is now under way and the owner has since demolished the extension.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32I've been with Stuart Barclay who hopes to find
0:25:32 > 0:25:34the perfect disused building
0:25:34 > 0:25:37and turn it into a dream home for his young family.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40He's been getting some useful advice from a couple who took on
0:25:40 > 0:25:44a similar project with wonderful results.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46Stuart, having seen this place,
0:25:46 > 0:25:49how are you feeling about taking on a project like this?
0:25:49 > 0:25:52Really optimistic. Having seen what John's done
0:25:52 > 0:25:55and the budget he's managed to do it for,
0:25:55 > 0:25:59I'm really optimistic about taking on a new project and a new life, really.
0:25:59 > 0:26:00Yeah, fantastic.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04He did a lot of the work himself and the figures are very encouraging.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06Definitely. Really, really encouraging.
0:26:06 > 0:26:09That means that potentially at least part of what I saw earlier
0:26:09 > 0:26:10I could do within budget.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13- So it is a place you'd consider? - I'd definitely consider that, yes.
0:26:13 > 0:26:16Very good. OK. It's a one-off, it's got a tremendous amount of history.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19- It would be really interesting if you do take it on.- For sure.
0:26:19 > 0:26:22Great you're interested in the place you saw earlier
0:26:22 > 0:26:24but whether it's that one or another one you take on,
0:26:24 > 0:26:26I'm sure with your enthusiasm, determination and ambition
0:26:26 > 0:26:29that you'll turn an empty property into a home very soon.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33- I hope so. Thanks very much, Joe. - Thank you very much. Cheers.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35Well, some great advice today for Stuart to take away with him
0:26:35 > 0:26:39as he begins his journey to convert an empty property.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41And you know what, we need people like Stuart,
0:26:41 > 0:26:43ambitious, focused, determined,
0:26:43 > 0:26:45if we're going to convert
0:26:45 > 0:26:48empty properties in this country into homes.
0:26:48 > 0:26:51So I'm really pleased he liked the look of the paper mill.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53And perhaps more importantly, that he wasn't daunted
0:26:53 > 0:26:55by a project on that scale.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58So whether it's the paper mill or another project,
0:26:58 > 0:27:02I'm sure that Stuart very soon will be creating his dream home.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd