0:00:02 > 0:00:05Up and down the country, there are empty properties
0:00:05 > 0:00:07just waiting to be brought back to life.
0:00:09 > 0:00:10I'll be finding out why,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13and what you can do to rescue a home for yourself.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16We'll be following the empty property officers
0:00:16 > 0:00:19whose job it is to track down the owners of forgotten houses
0:00:19 > 0:00:21and get them back into use.
0:00:21 > 0:00:23And I'll be doing some digging of my own,
0:00:23 > 0:00:25to find out more about our housing stock,
0:00:25 > 0:00:28our history, and why we should be both preserving
0:00:28 > 0:00:31and reinventing Britain's empty homes.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40An empty property can blight an otherwise picturesque street,
0:00:40 > 0:00:43but for people with vision and ambition,
0:00:43 > 0:00:46these buildings have tremendous potential.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49And for first-time buyers, they can be that all-important step
0:00:49 > 0:00:51on to the property ladder.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55On today's show, an air stewardess
0:00:55 > 0:00:57flying the nest for the first time...
0:00:57 > 0:01:00I was excited, but at the same time, I was very scared -
0:01:00 > 0:01:03obviously, the prospect of moving out and not being at home
0:01:03 > 0:01:06and growing up and having to do everything yourself.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10..an ambitious regeneration of terraces into affordable homes...
0:01:10 > 0:01:12It's about preserving the heritage,
0:01:12 > 0:01:15but actually recognising that in the 21st century,
0:01:15 > 0:01:16we live a little bit differently.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19..and one of Britain's empty property officers
0:01:19 > 0:01:20who's on a mission
0:01:20 > 0:01:23to bring Birmingham's abandoned buildings back into use.
0:01:23 > 0:01:27Living next door to this must be an absolute horrible nightmare, really.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32Earlier this year, Tony Pankhurst felt it was time
0:01:32 > 0:01:34for his 20-year-old daughter Georgia
0:01:34 > 0:01:37to move out of the family home and settle in a place of her own.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39My wife actually said to Georgia,
0:01:39 > 0:01:42"You're nearly 21. It's time to fly the nest.
0:01:42 > 0:01:44"Get out of my hair!"
0:01:44 > 0:01:45Didn't she?
0:01:45 > 0:01:48And I thought it really is a great opportunity for her
0:01:48 > 0:01:51to get out onto the property ladder.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53The sooner any youngsters can get on the property ladder,
0:01:53 > 0:01:55the better it is.
0:01:55 > 0:01:56As an air hostess,
0:01:56 > 0:01:58Georgia flies out of Heathrow,
0:01:58 > 0:02:00but wanted to find a house near Mum and Dad.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04With the budget I had, I didn't think I'd be able to get a house.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06Then I saw this
0:02:06 > 0:02:07and it was just perfect.
0:02:07 > 0:02:13She found a 1980s end-of-terrace on the market for ?114,000.
0:02:14 > 0:02:17To be honest, I fell in love with it straight away.
0:02:17 > 0:02:18I know it needed a lot of work doing,
0:02:18 > 0:02:20but ideally I wanted to find somewhere
0:02:20 > 0:02:23that needed sort of everything doing to it,
0:02:23 > 0:02:25so I could make it my own
0:02:25 > 0:02:27and have it exactly how I wanted it.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29I was excited, but at the same time, I was very scared -
0:02:29 > 0:02:33obviously, the prospect of moving out and not being at home
0:02:33 > 0:02:36and growing up and having to do everything yourself.
0:02:36 > 0:02:38The house was a repossession property
0:02:38 > 0:02:42and empty for four months, it needed some serious TLC.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45When we arrived, we thought, "Oh, my goodness!"
0:02:45 > 0:02:47Completely derelict, really, wasn't it?
0:02:47 > 0:02:49It needed so much work doing.
0:02:49 > 0:02:51But despite the dilapidated state,
0:02:51 > 0:02:54Tony immediately agreed with his daughter
0:02:54 > 0:02:55and saw it had potential.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57When we looked in the garden,
0:02:57 > 0:03:00and we found that there was a huge amount of space,
0:03:00 > 0:03:03we thought there's a good opportunity to extend here,
0:03:03 > 0:03:05which could add to the value of the house.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07There was plenty of interest in the house
0:03:07 > 0:03:10and Georgia made an offer for ?119,000,
0:03:10 > 0:03:14?5,000 over the asking price.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16There were seven of us bidding on it.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20So...the chances of me getting it, obviously, were very slim.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23And I did get it in the end.
0:03:23 > 0:03:25You got it in the end, and here we are.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28I was really fortunate that my dad managed to help me out
0:03:28 > 0:03:30with the deposit, didn't you? Mm-hm.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32He gave me a deposit. That's what dads do, isn't it?
0:03:32 > 0:03:34Having spent most of her budget,
0:03:34 > 0:03:38this leaves Georgia with just ?5,000 to create her dream home.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40I think the biggest challenge
0:03:40 > 0:03:43will be deciding on how I want to have everything.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46It's just nice, really, that the house is almost like a blank canvas
0:03:46 > 0:03:49and I can make it exactly how I want it,
0:03:49 > 0:03:52how I've always wanted my first house.
0:03:54 > 0:03:57Georgia and Tony have stripped out the old fixtures and fittings
0:03:57 > 0:03:59and are raring to go.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01Hopefully, I can help them with the next step.
0:04:01 > 0:04:02Morning!
0:04:02 > 0:04:04How are you? Hello, Joe. I'm Tony.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06How are you both?
0:04:06 > 0:04:07Good, thank you. Good, thanks.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10I should start by saying congratulations. Thank you.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12This is your first place? It is, yes.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14And why here - why this area?
0:04:14 > 0:04:17I've grown up here my whole life.
0:04:17 > 0:04:18I know the area really well.
0:04:18 > 0:04:21I've got all my family here and all my friends.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24And the building itself, not that old. Do you know how old it is?
0:04:24 > 0:04:25About 20 years old.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29It's still fairly new. Same as you? Yes, same as me. I'm 20.
0:04:29 > 0:04:31It's looking a bit more tired than you are. I know!
0:04:31 > 0:04:33Little bit.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36Let's go inside and actually have a look, shall we? Yeah. Sure.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38Let's go in. After you. Thank you.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42DIY is a brand-new experience for Georgia
0:04:42 > 0:04:45and now she's got the keys, she's daunted by the job ahead.
0:04:47 > 0:04:48I didn't realise until I actually came in here
0:04:48 > 0:04:50how much work it needed doing.
0:04:50 > 0:04:53When it is finished, how do you see it?
0:04:53 > 0:04:55Any particular ideas for how you want this space to be?
0:04:55 > 0:04:57I haven't actually decided yet.
0:04:57 > 0:05:00At the moment, I'm still looking through lots of magazines
0:05:00 > 0:05:02and on the internet, trying to get lots of inspiration
0:05:02 > 0:05:05and ideas from family and friends
0:05:05 > 0:05:07and what I see on the TV.
0:05:07 > 0:05:08Good for you. That's right.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10It takes time, doesn't it? Exactly.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13I've got to try and make it look really nice,
0:05:13 > 0:05:15but at the same time I'm working within a budget.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18And of course the property lends itself to extending later on.
0:05:18 > 0:05:22Does it? OK. Yes, outside we've got a nice big garden area.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26Right. So it'll be an opportunity when Georgia earns lots more money
0:05:26 > 0:05:28and stops taking money from Dad,
0:05:28 > 0:05:30to actually extend... Only kidding!
0:05:30 > 0:05:34It's a question of extending the property out,
0:05:34 > 0:05:36which would add to the value and also make the property
0:05:36 > 0:05:38a lot, lot bigger. OK.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42End-of-terraces are popular because there is often potential
0:05:42 > 0:05:44to extend to the side and the back,
0:05:44 > 0:05:47thus almost doubling the floor space.
0:05:47 > 0:05:50A well-planned extension can add between 12 and 25%
0:05:50 > 0:05:53on to the value of your home.
0:05:53 > 0:05:55So this is your garden?
0:05:55 > 0:05:57Yes. Tell me about where you want things.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59I'm planning in a few years on having the extension,
0:05:59 > 0:06:02which I'm going to have extended from here.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05That'll give me another couple of good-sized rooms.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08It would. Would you do double storey? Yeah.
0:06:08 > 0:06:10Hopefully, if that was possible.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12When a house is abandoned,
0:06:12 > 0:06:15an overgrown garden can quickly turn into a jungle.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19But there's great potential here for Georgia to create a retreat.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21All the way up this bank the garden goes -
0:06:21 > 0:06:23about 30 metres up -
0:06:23 > 0:06:26and the plan is, hopefully by the end of this year,
0:06:26 > 0:06:28I'll have it all cleared out and turfed over.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30That's a big garden, then. It's a very, very big garden.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34All overgrown at the moment with brambles and that kind of stuff.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36Yeah. Obviously, I have all this space behind me as well.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39Clearing the garden is a massive undertaking in itself,
0:06:39 > 0:06:42and I'm curious as to the division of labour here
0:06:42 > 0:06:44between father and daughter.
0:06:44 > 0:06:47So who is actually going to be doing the work on the house?
0:06:47 > 0:06:49I sort of tell Dad what I want done,
0:06:49 > 0:06:51and if he can do it, he'll do it, and if not...
0:06:51 > 0:06:53Within reason!
0:06:53 > 0:06:55Have you got any DIY experience?
0:06:55 > 0:06:57Anything you'll be rolling up your sleeves to do?
0:06:57 > 0:06:58I'll probably be doing the painting.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00Painting. That's very good of you.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03When I've decided what colour. Right.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06I am concerned that Georgia is taking a back seat
0:07:06 > 0:07:08and leaving it all to Dad Tony.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10Hopefully, taking her to see somebody else
0:07:10 > 0:07:13who's successfully completed a renovation
0:07:13 > 0:07:15will give her more confidence to get involved.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18Well, what I want you to do is go and see another property,
0:07:18 > 0:07:21one that has had a full renovation and been completed.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23They've done quite a lot of work,
0:07:23 > 0:07:26and they'll have some really good practical advice
0:07:26 > 0:07:28on just what's involved in things like extensions
0:07:28 > 0:07:30and more substantial work
0:07:30 > 0:07:33that you may face soon, or you may leave till later on.
0:07:33 > 0:07:35It would be really good to have that knowledge
0:07:35 > 0:07:37as you progress forwards.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39I think that sounds absolutely brilliant.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43Sadly, not all of Britain's forgotten buildings
0:07:43 > 0:07:45are rescued and brought back to life.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48But local councils are taking action
0:07:48 > 0:07:50and it's the job of empty property officers
0:07:50 > 0:07:52to track these buildings down.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56Since 2008, Matt Smith and his team at Birmingham City Council
0:07:56 > 0:08:01have brought a staggering 1,300 empty homes back into use.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04Today Matt's visiting a place
0:08:04 > 0:08:06he thought was off his caseload for good.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10But the neighbours are still unhappy that nothing's been done.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13I don't think it'll be helping
0:08:13 > 0:08:14any pride in the community,
0:08:14 > 0:08:17which I think is something a lot of communities do lack.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19And just having something like that lying around,
0:08:19 > 0:08:21I think it just brings everybody down.
0:08:21 > 0:08:23With so many empty properties in the country at the moment
0:08:23 > 0:08:26and the housing crisis as it is, it's such a shame that all the houses
0:08:26 > 0:08:29that are empty and run-down can't all be done up
0:08:29 > 0:08:31and put back on the market, either sold or rented out.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35This property's been empty for over 15 years.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38It was previously owned by a housing association.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41The new owner bought the property at auction
0:08:41 > 0:08:44with a view to renovating it, bringing it back into use.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46However, the building is still derelict,
0:08:46 > 0:08:49just as it was when it was purchased in May 2010.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52It's disappointing that the house is remaining
0:08:52 > 0:08:55in such a dilapidated and empty state.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58The house is in a desirable area
0:08:58 > 0:09:01and has been targeted by squatters and trespassers.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04As you can see, this is one of the worst houses
0:09:04 > 0:09:07in the whole of the area. There are lots of reports
0:09:07 > 0:09:08that people are getting inside the property,
0:09:08 > 0:09:10so I'm going to have a look round the side.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12I can see doors off already at the front.
0:09:12 > 0:09:16These are the sort of properties which certainly drive me mad
0:09:16 > 0:09:19and must drive the neighbours mad, because living next door to this
0:09:19 > 0:09:22must be an absolute horrible nightmare, really.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26The main reason for the visit today is checking security,
0:09:26 > 0:09:28but also taking some notes and photographs
0:09:28 > 0:09:30to take some enforcement action
0:09:30 > 0:09:32and getting the property improved.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36Matt immediately spots there's easy back access.
0:09:36 > 0:09:38You've got all the fences at the front
0:09:38 > 0:09:41to stop people getting in.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Then you've got a two-foot high wall which people can just step over.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47The reports of people getting in -
0:09:47 > 0:09:50this is obviously where people are getting inside.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53There's another door here,
0:09:53 > 0:09:56which, as you can already see, has been pulled off.
0:09:56 > 0:10:00So again, it looks like they're getting inside the house.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02They get inside the property from here.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05So we need that door certainly securing up a lot better.
0:10:05 > 0:10:10As I say, as much as the fences at the front of the property are doing a good job,
0:10:10 > 0:10:12people are getting in around the side.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16Photographs document the damage, so Matt can inform the owner and take the next step.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19Today's visit's been a real eye-opener.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22Looking at the property now, front, back and side,
0:10:22 > 0:10:25there's lots of visual issues with the property.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28You can see boards are hanging off doors,
0:10:28 > 0:10:30off windows and that sort of thing.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34Visually, the property is the worst in the area.
0:10:34 > 0:10:36If the owner fails to take further action,
0:10:36 > 0:10:39the council can step in and take ownership.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42We need to do something about it
0:10:42 > 0:10:45and compulsory purchase is quite often the only guarantee
0:10:45 > 0:10:47the property will be brought back into use.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52It's not just organisations who can save abandoned buildings.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54Private owners can too.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57So if you want to take on one of Britain's empty homes,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00then contact your local empty property officer
0:11:00 > 0:11:03or talk to local estate agents and auctioneers
0:11:03 > 0:11:05about abandoned buildings in your area.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13Across the UK, there are untold numbers of abandoned buildings
0:11:13 > 0:11:15ready to be restored.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17And with the right planning and imagination,
0:11:17 > 0:11:19the results can be inspiring,
0:11:19 > 0:11:21as Geoff and Dorothy Gibson have proved.
0:11:21 > 0:11:26We had moved into a new-build house that we designed ourselves
0:11:26 > 0:11:29and we'd been living there for six months
0:11:29 > 0:11:33when Jack came home and said he'd seen his latest project.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36My immediate feeling was...
0:11:36 > 0:11:40I was absolutely horrified and my heart sank.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44I just saw a great project and I thought,
0:11:44 > 0:11:48"This is another challenge. Let's go for it."
0:11:48 > 0:11:52The former barn, which was built in the 1850s,
0:11:52 > 0:11:54stands at the junction of four farms
0:11:54 > 0:11:56and is Grade II listed.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58We then started talking to the farmer,
0:11:58 > 0:12:01negotiating,
0:12:01 > 0:12:04and in the end we agreed on a price for the property,
0:12:04 > 0:12:08seven acres of land, with a lake at the back.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11You could see through it. There were no sides.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14There was just this big black cast-iron column in the middle.
0:12:14 > 0:12:18It looked very much like the inside of an umbrella.
0:12:18 > 0:12:21When the work started in earnest,
0:12:21 > 0:12:24every part of the listed building had to be carefully fixed
0:12:24 > 0:12:26or created from scratch.
0:12:26 > 0:12:30We knew the roof had to be reinstated,
0:12:30 > 0:12:33because it's a Grade II listed building.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35It had to be reinstated as is -
0:12:35 > 0:12:37the walls, the floors.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40So we did have a bit of a blank canvas
0:12:40 > 0:12:43as how we wanted it to progress forward.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47As well as spending over ?300,000 on the renovation,
0:12:47 > 0:12:50Geoff and Dorothy were extremely hands-on,
0:12:50 > 0:12:52in a bid to keep costs down.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56Coming home after work and working until all hours of the night-time...
0:12:56 > 0:12:59Most weekends, we were working on it.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03The planners were quite specific in how the exterior of the building
0:13:03 > 0:13:05had to look.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09It had to resemble a barn.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11That was very important.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14And they were also very specific about the type of windows
0:13:14 > 0:13:17that we could have and where the windows were going to be
0:13:17 > 0:13:22and the actual external cladding of the building also.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24They were very definite about that,
0:13:24 > 0:13:28which is why we have the timber cladding around the outside.
0:13:28 > 0:13:32It's been a work in progress as far as the interior is concerned,
0:13:32 > 0:13:35because as we got used to the property,
0:13:35 > 0:13:40it then became clear what we were going to do with it internally.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43As they approached the end of phase 1 of the project,
0:13:43 > 0:13:45which was to get the barn habitable,
0:13:45 > 0:13:48Geoff's plans started to expand.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51We decided that I would like a garage, so...
0:13:51 > 0:13:53The trouble is, being in the conservation part,
0:13:53 > 0:13:56the planners said, "No, you can't build above ground",
0:13:56 > 0:13:59so I said, "Can we build below ground?"
0:13:59 > 0:14:01And they said, "Well, give us your proposals".
0:14:01 > 0:14:04So I sketched out a garage and I thought,
0:14:04 > 0:14:08"Well, if we're going to dig a hole, we might as well dig a big hole",
0:14:08 > 0:14:12so as well as a garage, we decided to have an underground conservatory.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15The access ramp that you drive down into the garage
0:14:15 > 0:14:18and the conservatory, which is...
0:14:18 > 0:14:20A great party room. A great party room.
0:14:20 > 0:14:24We've then concentrated on doing the outside.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27Again, it was just fields when we started,
0:14:27 > 0:14:31so every tree, every plant has been put in by us.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35We probably put in 500 trees around in the area.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38The renovation took a total of four years
0:14:38 > 0:14:42and with it firmly behind them, Geoff and Dorothy look back
0:14:42 > 0:14:44with a sense of achievement.
0:14:44 > 0:14:46I think it's a little bit like having a baby.
0:14:46 > 0:14:50You go through the immense pain
0:14:50 > 0:14:52and at the end of it, you have something to show for it.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54And you forget...
0:14:54 > 0:14:58Talking about it now is bringing it all back.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00I cannot stress this too much -
0:15:00 > 0:15:05the key to any people taking on a project of this nature
0:15:05 > 0:15:07is in the planning stages,
0:15:07 > 0:15:11not the first day that something is going to be built.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15It's the lead-up that's so, so important.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19I think we feel very proud of what we've done.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22It's going to be here for a long time. It's a legacy.
0:15:22 > 0:15:23It's a tribute to Geoff.
0:15:23 > 0:15:25It's been a good experience.
0:15:25 > 0:15:29I will want to build a final property
0:15:29 > 0:15:30to retire into.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33Yes, we're that old! That old!
0:15:33 > 0:15:38Hopefully, I think that he may actually get other people,
0:15:38 > 0:15:40commission other people, to do it.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42I will supervise next time.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46The minute that the keys are handed over,
0:15:46 > 0:15:51I will walk into a completed, finished property.
0:15:53 > 0:15:56The northwest of England is struggling
0:15:56 > 0:15:57with an empty home epidemic.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00The legacy of failed government schemes
0:16:00 > 0:16:02has led to row upon row of terraces
0:16:02 > 0:16:05boarded up and abandoned, creating wastelands
0:16:05 > 0:16:08of our once-thriving industrial communities.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11In Accrington, Place First is a partnership
0:16:11 > 0:16:13between a developer and a housing association.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16Backed by the local council, the scheme plans to resuscitate
0:16:16 > 0:16:18five streets of terraced houses
0:16:18 > 0:16:21that were once earmarked for demolition.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25Martin Ellerby is going to give me a tour of the site.
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Hi, Martin. I'm Joe. Hi, Joe. Nice to meet you.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30Tell me about these buildings
0:16:30 > 0:16:32and ultimately what the plan is here.
0:16:32 > 0:16:35Well, we've got 89 empty terraced properties.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38All of them are two up, two down terraces.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41And clearly, in today's world, it's not very attractive to families.
0:16:41 > 0:16:46So we decided from the outset that we want to work with the existing fabric of the buildings,
0:16:46 > 0:16:48to work with the heritage of this town
0:16:48 > 0:16:51and not knock things down and create new-build properties.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53Place First plan to reconfigure the two-bed terraces
0:16:53 > 0:16:56to create two, four and six-bedroom homes
0:16:56 > 0:16:59that are more suited for modern family life.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02They're going to knock neighbouring terraces together,
0:17:02 > 0:17:04either three into two or two into one,
0:17:04 > 0:17:06to create much larger properties.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09It's really about preserving the heritage,
0:17:09 > 0:17:12but actually recognising in the 21st century, we live a little bit differently.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15We don't want compartmentalised Victorian spaces.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18We want lots of natural light, flexible spaces,
0:17:18 > 0:17:19plenty of storage space.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23Again, which is something a lot of developers forget about in more affordable schemes. Yeah.
0:17:25 > 0:17:27I'm having a look inside one of the existing terraces
0:17:27 > 0:17:30to understand how they plan to modify the space.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32Do you know what? From the outside,
0:17:32 > 0:17:34I thought it would be a lot smaller in here.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37This is actually not a bad size room, isn't it?
0:17:37 > 0:17:39They're great spaces. How typical is this?
0:17:39 > 0:17:42Is this what you're dealing with in quite a few of these properties?
0:17:42 > 0:17:45I'd say this was typical, in that we've got a very boxy room here
0:17:45 > 0:17:47and then on the second half of the house,
0:17:47 > 0:17:48we've got another box, essentially.
0:17:48 > 0:17:52So the house is divided down the middle. Typical Victorian layout.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55And in most cases, we'll look to get rid of that
0:17:55 > 0:17:57and actually create an open-plan arrangement,
0:17:57 > 0:18:00which also allows more light to come into the house,
0:18:00 > 0:18:03because you've got light coming in from both sides.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06Yeah, open plan, so you can have a sitting area, a dining area,
0:18:06 > 0:18:09the kitchen traditionally at the back, I suppose.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12That's where the drainage is. And that will have it in one big space.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16That's right. We're doing that on a large part of the properties,
0:18:16 > 0:18:18but on the four-beds, for example,
0:18:18 > 0:18:21which are more appealing to the larger families...
0:18:21 > 0:18:23Larger families, that's more noise,
0:18:23 > 0:18:26and open plan is great in some instances, but not all.
0:18:26 > 0:18:27So on the larger properties,
0:18:27 > 0:18:29we'll create two reception rooms.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32So there will be one room that can be used for the kids,
0:18:32 > 0:18:34playing with their toys and making the noise that they make.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37And then having another room which can be a little bit quieter -
0:18:37 > 0:18:40somewhere to do some homework for the kids
0:18:40 > 0:18:42or just sit down and eat a family meal together.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46The first phase of the development
0:18:46 > 0:18:50will see 71 houses being brought back into use by 2014,
0:18:50 > 0:18:53with a further 129 properties set to follow.
0:18:53 > 0:18:57And keen to show local people just what they'll be getting,
0:18:57 > 0:18:59work has started on the show homes.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03What do we have here, then? Well, these are the handsome boys
0:19:03 > 0:19:05of the street, really.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07These are the double-fronted end properties
0:19:07 > 0:19:09that front out onto this main road here.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13The majority of the properties here on the ends tend to be a little bit bigger.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17These would have been a slightly better quality home when these were originally built.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20These may have been for the factory foremen rather than the general workers.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23I see. This will be one of our first show properties.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26We started on this just last week.
0:19:26 > 0:19:28We just started clearing the site.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31So these properties will take around 10 to 12 weeks to do.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35Just as we're finishing off on this, we'll start on the main works
0:19:35 > 0:19:36on one of the streets down here,
0:19:36 > 0:19:41so we'll essentially be concurrently rolling on construction throughout the area.
0:19:41 > 0:19:43Are you going to do it street by street?
0:19:43 > 0:19:44Pretty much, yes, street by street.
0:19:44 > 0:19:48First Place will rent the properties to local families.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51We hope to have these homes ready for the first families to move in
0:19:51 > 0:19:53around spring of next year.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56So we're not hanging around.
0:19:56 > 0:19:58Yeah. Already, what we're starting to see
0:19:58 > 0:20:02is that people in the area are actually starting to do properties up now. Right.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05Housing market renewal created a bit of a status quo.
0:20:05 > 0:20:06People who owned property in the area,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09who maybe even wanted to invest in their properties, wouldn't do it
0:20:09 > 0:20:12because they could see there was no plan for the area. Yeah.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14But now we're on site and we're starting to do things,
0:20:14 > 0:20:17you walk around the area, you can see there are people
0:20:17 > 0:20:19who are cleaning up the stone frontages on their buildings.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23People are starting to get confidence already, even at this early stage. Wow!
0:20:23 > 0:20:26This really is an incredibly bold and ambitious project
0:20:26 > 0:20:29to release the full potential of these streets.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32It's not just about one or two properties - it's about a large number of houses
0:20:32 > 0:20:38and it goes beyond that. Really, it's about giving a community confidence again.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40Growing it, making it a place where people want to live
0:20:40 > 0:20:46and importantly, providing much-needed family housing in this area.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51Back in Hastings, I'm with first-time buyer Georgia Pankhurst,
0:20:51 > 0:20:53who, with the help of her dad Tony,
0:20:53 > 0:20:56has just taken her first step on the property ladder.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59They've bought a run-down end-of-terrace
0:20:59 > 0:21:00and with the plans up in the air,
0:21:00 > 0:21:02they want some advice on where to start
0:21:02 > 0:21:04and whether to extend.
0:21:04 > 0:21:08I'm going to introduce them to a couple who've done something very similar.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Right, guys. This is the place I want you to see.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13You're probably thinking, "That doesn't look much like my house".
0:21:13 > 0:21:15No. And it doesn't.
0:21:15 > 0:21:17No! But keeping an open mind here,
0:21:17 > 0:21:21I think there are more similarities here than first meet the eye when you turn up outside.
0:21:21 > 0:21:24And also, the couple you're about to meet
0:21:24 > 0:21:27have some really good experience. They've done some renovations,
0:21:27 > 0:21:30they've built extensions. They know what they're talking about.
0:21:30 > 0:21:35Hopefully, they'll have some good advice. Shall we say hello? Yeah! Let's do it.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37When Edna and Alan Gardner from Polegate
0:21:37 > 0:21:41were searching for their next home, they knew they wanted to find a house
0:21:41 > 0:21:43to which they could add value.
0:21:44 > 0:21:47We looked around and went to the estate agents, which you do,
0:21:47 > 0:21:51and we came across this one. And it was winter at the time
0:21:51 > 0:21:53and it had been empty for a little while.
0:21:53 > 0:21:58We could see the potential of the place. It was big enough,
0:21:58 > 0:22:00it had good-sized bedrooms.
0:22:00 > 0:22:05It wasn't...for us, decoration-wise.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Like, it had a green bathroom, really green bathroom.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10And a nasty brown kitchen.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12Wallpaper was falling off the walls!
0:22:12 > 0:22:14It was in a bad state.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17A 1920s two-bedroom bungalow on a large plot,
0:22:17 > 0:22:19it had great scope to extend.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22We could see the potential
0:22:22 > 0:22:24that we could actually get the three bedrooms in.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27Basically, we had to strip all the back end of the property out,
0:22:27 > 0:22:31so we could extend and put on a brand-new kitchen,
0:22:31 > 0:22:33which is a nice-sized kitchen.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36We also, into the space of the extension,
0:22:36 > 0:22:38we then put in the new bathroom.
0:22:38 > 0:22:43The new bedroom we put on was the old existing kitchen,
0:22:43 > 0:22:45plus we had a very large garden,
0:22:45 > 0:22:49whereas the garden we have here now is beautiful,
0:22:49 > 0:22:52but is smaller than we had, so we feel it's a lot more manageable.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54Edna and Alan lived here for 12 months
0:22:54 > 0:22:57before starting any building work.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00We took time to decide exactly what we needed.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04We didn't just rush into it - "Oh, we want another bedroom.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06"How will we put it on?"
0:23:06 > 0:23:10We actually spent time considering how it would work best.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12In fact, we drew up lots of different plans...
0:23:12 > 0:23:14"Will that work? Will that work?"
0:23:14 > 0:23:17..before we even got to the architect stage.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20And taking the time to get it right has paid off tenfold
0:23:20 > 0:23:23and left them very satisfied with the end result.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27My favourite is my kitchen. I've never had a kitchen as big.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30And the kitchen I had as I wanted it.
0:23:30 > 0:23:32Best thing I ever did.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35Absolutely brilliant. So my kitchen is what I love best.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39I am in no doubt that advice and tips from these seasoned renovators
0:23:39 > 0:23:42will be invaluable for a first-timer like Georgia
0:23:42 > 0:23:46and give her the confidence she needs to take things forward.
0:23:47 > 0:23:48Tell me what you took on here.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52When you first found this property, what state was it in?
0:23:52 > 0:23:54It was in very bad repair.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57The outside was sound.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59The inside was...the plaster was chipping off.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03The wallpaper was hanging off onto the floor.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06Edna and Alan built a single-storey extension
0:24:06 > 0:24:10to create an open plan lounge/diner and a new kitchen
0:24:10 > 0:24:11at a cost of ?50,000.
0:24:11 > 0:24:13In your experience,
0:24:13 > 0:24:17how do you make plans, and how do you decide what you want?
0:24:17 > 0:24:21Georgia's just moved in. She knows she's got to do some key things for her to live there,
0:24:21 > 0:24:23like get some sort of functional kitchen and bathroom in
0:24:23 > 0:24:25and try and make it homely.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29But beyond that, maybe some bigger plans - maybe extensions further down the line.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32When did you work out what you wanted to do and how you wanted to do it?
0:24:32 > 0:24:34We knew we wanted to make it a bit bigger.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37So until we actually lived here for a while,
0:24:37 > 0:24:41it was a job to say, "We can do this and we can do that."
0:24:41 > 0:24:45Interesting. So you did live for a while and you thought about the space during that? Yes.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49We lived with bare boards and a quick slap of paint here and there.
0:24:49 > 0:24:50And...yes!
0:24:50 > 0:24:53Do you think it was the right decision,
0:24:53 > 0:24:55having the extension put on when you moved here?
0:24:55 > 0:24:59Yes, because we actually had a year in the planning of it, anyway.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03We lived here for a while. We then got the plans done.
0:25:03 > 0:25:07So we had plenty of time to make sure we were doing what we really wanted
0:25:07 > 0:25:10and could make any changes at any point
0:25:10 > 0:25:12on the plans before we finally decided.
0:25:12 > 0:25:16So would you say Georgia's quite right to get in quite soon,
0:25:16 > 0:25:19live with the space and then think about how to extend in the future?
0:25:19 > 0:25:22Definitely. Take your time in deciding
0:25:22 > 0:25:24what you want to do,
0:25:24 > 0:25:27because you do change your mind. Yeah!
0:25:27 > 0:25:30I can understand and I can see where you're coming from about taking your time.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32You will change your mind after a little while,
0:25:32 > 0:25:34and of course what you've done
0:25:34 > 0:25:36is cause yourself an awful lot of work in doing something,
0:25:36 > 0:25:38only to change your mind a few weeks later.
0:25:38 > 0:25:43And extra expense, if you suddenly think, "Oh, I really don't like that."
0:25:43 > 0:25:46If you make a costly mistake,
0:25:46 > 0:25:48it can cost you double the money.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53In addition to extending, anther way to add value to a home
0:25:53 > 0:25:55is to have a well-maintained garden.
0:25:55 > 0:25:58And Alan and Edna have just that.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00And I'm keen for Georgia to understand
0:26:00 > 0:26:03the potential her own garden can offer her.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05This garden... You did a brilliant job
0:26:05 > 0:26:07to find a place with such a beautiful, manicured garden.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11But it wasn't manicured when we arrived here, believe me!
0:26:11 > 0:26:15What was it like? We had brambles from the house all the way down
0:26:15 > 0:26:17to the fence at the bottom.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20And I got the loppers out
0:26:20 > 0:26:23and I went systematically, day by day, down the garden,
0:26:23 > 0:26:25cutting the brambles out.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29And when I got to where the new seat is by the fish pond,
0:26:29 > 0:26:31I found a shed we didn't know was there!
0:26:31 > 0:26:33You discovered a shed?!
0:26:33 > 0:26:36The shed was covered in brambles.
0:26:36 > 0:26:38Six by four shed.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42Georgia's garden goes up on quite a steep slope
0:26:42 > 0:26:46and it's covered over with loads and loads of brambles, trees, bushes, etc.
0:26:46 > 0:26:50And until you can physically look in there, you don't know.
0:26:50 > 0:26:51It's hard work and time.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54Well done. Thank you. Thank you.
0:26:54 > 0:26:56And all the best to you two. Thank you.
0:26:59 > 0:27:01It seems Alan and Edna's achievements
0:27:01 > 0:27:03have inspired Georgia.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07Seeing this today has definitely given me lots of ideas on how I could have my garden
0:27:07 > 0:27:09if I did clear it and sort it out.
0:27:09 > 0:27:14And what about the advice? Has it been helpful coming here and meeting Edna and Alan?
0:27:14 > 0:27:15Yeah, it's been really, really helpful
0:27:15 > 0:27:19just to get an insight from other people who were in my position -
0:27:19 > 0:27:22obviously bought their house and didn't know what to do with it.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25Yeah, it's helped me quite a lot, actually.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29Given me a lot of ideas. Good.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32Well, look, it's a great opportunity to have your first property at 20.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35Loads to do in it, but loads of possibilities as well,
0:27:35 > 0:27:38so I hope the daunting nature of it is subsiding slightly
0:27:38 > 0:27:41and you're just very excited about it. Definitely.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44I wish you every luck in between trotting round the world.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48Thank you. Coming home and making it the place you want. Thank you very much!
0:27:51 > 0:27:53Well, I think today has been really useful for Georgia.
0:27:53 > 0:27:57Some great practical advice from two very experienced renovators,
0:27:57 > 0:27:58but also, it's been about potential -
0:27:58 > 0:28:00showing just what you can achieve
0:28:00 > 0:28:02when you start out with an empty property.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04I'm sure if she takes all that on board,
0:28:04 > 0:28:07she'll very soon have her perfect first home.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd