0:00:02 > 0:00:05'Across the country, empty properties that could be homes
0:00:05 > 0:00:08'are just waiting to be brought back into use.'
0:00:09 > 0:00:10I'll be finding out why
0:00:10 > 0:00:15and what you need to do to rescue a house for yourself.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18Along the way, I'll be doing some digging of my own to find out more
0:00:18 > 0:00:20about our housing stock, our heritage
0:00:20 > 0:00:22and why we should be both reinventing
0:00:22 > 0:00:24and preserving Britain's empty homes.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36Renovating an empty home can be a life-changing experience.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39You'll need the ability to visualise potential
0:00:39 > 0:00:42where others only see problems, but if you can do that,
0:00:42 > 0:00:46then taking on one of these buildings can be truly rewarding.
0:00:47 > 0:00:51On today's show, a couple looking to jazz up an empty Methodist Chapel.
0:00:51 > 0:00:54I've had to get used to a builder's idea of an early morning,
0:00:54 > 0:00:57compared to what a jazz musician's idea of an early morning is.
0:00:57 > 0:00:59In Greater Manchester,
0:00:59 > 0:01:03a regeneration project creating new homes and new opportunities.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06You get to learn what you've got to do on the outside world
0:01:06 > 0:01:08instead of just being in a workshop all the time.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11And we follow an empty property officer
0:01:11 > 0:01:13on a mission to fix a home and a community.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16One evening I came home and there were some youths
0:01:16 > 0:01:19in the garden and they actually threatened me.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25In Armley, Leeds, professional jazz musicians Simon and Kari
0:01:25 > 0:01:29always dreamt of renovating a classic Yorkshire sandstone building.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31And it was music to their ears
0:01:31 > 0:01:34when this former Methodist chapel came on the market.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36'We've been wanting to do something like this'
0:01:36 > 0:01:38for as long as I can remember.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41Yes. Somewhere where we can completely put our own stamp on it.
0:01:41 > 0:01:44We always knew when we were looking at this property
0:01:44 > 0:01:47we could clean it up and get that beautiful sandstone colour out again.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50We were walking around saying, we can do this.
0:01:50 > 0:01:51This is something we can take on.
0:01:51 > 0:01:56But not everyone in their family had quite the same faith in the project.
0:01:56 > 0:02:00My dad came to view it for the first time. He was absolutely horrified
0:02:00 > 0:02:03and I think he just thought we were crazy.
0:02:03 > 0:02:07Simon and Kari paid ?120,000 for the chapel
0:02:07 > 0:02:10and they soon found out they got more than they bargained for.
0:02:10 > 0:02:16We actually found a carrier coffin and various other, sort of...
0:02:16 > 0:02:18Accessories. ..items. SHE LAUGHS
0:02:18 > 0:02:19And we're not superstitious,
0:02:19 > 0:02:23but Kari did enjoy coming up to the property without me knowing
0:02:23 > 0:02:25and positioning the coffin
0:02:25 > 0:02:27in the middle of the main room with a cross on top of it
0:02:27 > 0:02:30and insisting that we go late at night to view the property,
0:02:30 > 0:02:33so obviously I opened the door and had a bit of a shock.
0:02:33 > 0:02:37Um... But other than that, we weren't too worried about it, were we? No.
0:02:37 > 0:02:38SHE LAUGHS
0:02:39 > 0:02:42But turning a former chapel into a comfortable home
0:02:42 > 0:02:45is an ambitious and challenging feat.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48With a building like this, you've got to keep
0:02:48 > 0:02:50as many of the original features as you can,
0:02:50 > 0:02:52but you've got to introduce new technologies,
0:02:52 > 0:02:55to make it environmentally friendly and efficient.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59Simon and Kari are hoping the ?80,000 set aside for renovation
0:02:59 > 0:03:02will be enough to create their dream home.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04Some days I come up here, look at the building
0:03:04 > 0:03:08and I think we're getting nowhere. I really think, what are we doing?
0:03:08 > 0:03:11And I actually really feel quite worried that
0:03:11 > 0:03:14if we don't do it right, we've let this building down. Yes.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17We're just trying to make sure that we do it as best we can.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20Within our budget. Within our budget.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25The couple have been working on this site for just under a year.
0:03:25 > 0:03:30But they still have plenty to do and crucial decisions to make.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you. Simon, how are you doing?
0:03:32 > 0:03:34Good, thanks. Tell me about your place.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36Well, it was a Methodist chapel originally
0:03:36 > 0:03:39and then it became some kind of working men's club
0:03:39 > 0:03:42and before we took it over, it was a joiner's workshop.
0:03:42 > 0:03:44It looks like a Methodist chapel,
0:03:44 > 0:03:47it's got that lovely quite simple, plain look. Beautiful stone.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Have you started work? Yes. Big skip is a big clue.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54Yes, that's actually skip number ten, I think. Number ten?! Yes.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58Let's go inside, shall we, and see what you've been doing? Yes. Great.
0:04:03 > 0:04:04It's an incredible space.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06What was it like when you saw it for the first time?
0:04:06 > 0:04:09Every bit of stonework you can see was covered with plaster
0:04:09 > 0:04:12and it took months to get all that off on the entire building.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14And these wood beams are incredible.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16These were actually a bit of a hidden treasure
0:04:16 > 0:04:19and when we uncovered them, we changed our plans.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21We raised the height of the floor upstairs so these can be exposed,
0:04:21 > 0:04:23so we'd be able to see them all the time.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27There's real craftsmanship where they join. You've got this space,
0:04:27 > 0:04:29what are you hoping to achieve?
0:04:29 > 0:04:32Well, this is going to remain open plan as you see it now, pretty much.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36OK. So, it's going to be kitchen, diner and living space all in one.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Nice. To the side, we've got we've got a small chapel arrest.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41OK, what's it going to be?
0:04:41 > 0:04:44Well, it's going to be Simon's resting place. My resting place.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48It's going to be a music room for me, I'll have my games console and TV.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50Little man pad? Yes.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52Do you get your own room as well? How does this work?
0:04:52 > 0:04:54Yes, I get a workroom upstairs.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57There is a deadline, isn't there? There is, yes,
0:04:57 > 0:04:59we're having a little one in November... Wow.
0:04:59 > 0:05:04..so we're obviously hoping that it will be liveable by then. Yes. Yes.
0:05:04 > 0:05:06Any other key discoveries as you've gone along?
0:05:06 > 0:05:09We've discovered loads of things. I've got some here.
0:05:09 > 0:05:12This is an old medical device.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14I think it was some kind of electric shock therapy.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17Goodness me! Different attachments.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20And then sort of blue electricity would come out and...
0:05:20 > 0:05:23Never seen anything like this! It's like film on the surface.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27Oof! Look like they've been well used as well, don't they?
0:05:27 > 0:05:29That's bizarre!
0:05:29 > 0:05:32We've also got this, which is the old Leeds Yorkshire Mercury
0:05:32 > 0:05:34and it's actually from Thursday, December the 12th.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37December the 12th's my birthday. Gosh! Bit of a strange coincidence.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41That is, isn't it? Incredible. Over 110 years old. Yeah. Yeah.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45Fantastic! I'll give those back to you before I wreck them.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47What do you want out of this property?
0:05:47 > 0:05:52I think the main thing here is to let the beam work do the talking
0:05:52 > 0:05:56and keep the decor quite simplistic.
0:05:56 > 0:06:00'Although downstairs will be an open plan living space, upstairs,
0:06:00 > 0:06:03'the couple are creating four unique bedrooms and two bathrooms.'
0:06:03 > 0:06:07Where are we standing now? We're in the master bedroom now.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09So what would that be there? An en suite?
0:06:09 > 0:06:13Clearly, a lot of work's happened already. We've put new ceilings in, walls up
0:06:13 > 0:06:17and we've had to replace every floor level in here. It was all on strange different levels
0:06:17 > 0:06:20and different bits over the years that people had built. New roof?
0:06:20 > 0:06:23When we first viewed the property, we could see daylight through the roof.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27It was the original sandstone slate roof, so it was all worn out,
0:06:27 > 0:06:31so we've had to have a new one. Your little baby's due in a few months.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33What state would the building be in ideally at that point?
0:06:33 > 0:06:39By no means does the entire property need to be completely finished for us to move in.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42We need a functioning bathroom, bedroom spaces, obviously.
0:06:42 > 0:06:47What's the budget? I think if we can finish around the 80,000 mark, we'll be fairly happy.
0:06:47 > 0:06:49I think we're going to.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52I guess you're both improvisers cos you're jazz musicians.
0:06:52 > 0:06:57Does that feed into being creative about this project, in coming up with unusual ideas?
0:06:57 > 0:07:00I've had to get used to what a builder's idea of an early morning
0:07:00 > 0:07:03is compared to what a jazz musician's idea of an early morning is.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06'Simon and Kari are adding a lot of insulation and are clearly
0:07:06 > 0:07:10'taking the energy efficiency of this building very seriously.'
0:07:10 > 0:07:15What is it that's still a concern at this stage? Obviously, the green element of the building,
0:07:15 > 0:07:21so how we're going to heat it. The technology we're looking into isn't that commonly used in this country.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24It's hard to know, completely independent advice and advice
0:07:24 > 0:07:28that's being given because someone's trying to sell you something. Yeah.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31This is the ideal moment to get a little inspiration from another property.
0:07:31 > 0:07:36So I'm taking you to see a place that's also been many things in the
0:07:36 > 0:07:39past and also the person involved has experience of green technology.
0:07:39 > 0:07:43I think there'll be some really good advice and plenty to take away.
0:07:43 > 0:07:45Does that sound like a good plan? Sounds great.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51The big challenge now is to transform this building site
0:07:51 > 0:07:54into a very personal family home,
0:07:54 > 0:07:58while keeping a sense of the building's history and grandeur.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01So it'll be great for them to see a property that has been completed,
0:08:01 > 0:08:04so they can glean a bit of inspiration,
0:08:04 > 0:08:06but also to get advice from a man who's been through all
0:08:06 > 0:08:10this before and turned a house of God into a heavenly home.
0:08:10 > 0:08:14Whether you're taking on a vacant church on a wing and a prayer,
0:08:14 > 0:08:17or making hay with a barn conversion, with imagination
0:08:17 > 0:08:19and perseverance,
0:08:19 > 0:08:22even the most unlikely of dwellings can be turned into a new home.
0:08:25 > 0:08:28In north Yorkshire, after selling his dental practice,
0:08:28 > 0:08:31Ian Gordon and his wife Jane were looking for a renovation
0:08:31 > 0:08:34project they could sink their teeth into.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38We came to look at on my birthday and although it wasn't very
0:08:38 > 0:08:42appealing, the plot was fantastic and I immediately thought, "Oh!
0:08:42 > 0:08:43"I know what I want to do!"
0:08:43 > 0:08:48I think the vision came together for Jane because she could see what it was going to
0:08:48 > 0:08:51be like. I'm more pragmatic. I needed to actually see some bricks and mortar.
0:08:51 > 0:08:56Ian and Jane bought the property for ?650,000, which is
0:08:56 > 0:09:00a lot of money for what was effectively a giant cat litter tray.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03The first thing that hit you was the odour, which took a little
0:09:03 > 0:09:07while to identify, until you realised it used to be a cattery.
0:09:07 > 0:09:12We wondered whether it was just a cat that had lost some of its bowel control!
0:09:12 > 0:09:15But there was one problem not to be sniffed at.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18The bungalow is overlooked by a conservation area,
0:09:18 > 0:09:22meaning tight planning restrictions. Certain walls, we've had to keep.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26They have no structural value, just pure political value.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29I think the National Park get concerned about allowing
0:09:29 > 0:09:32a demolition because that can set a precedent.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34But with work well under way, the project froze.
0:09:34 > 0:09:38December 2009, it started to snow.
0:09:38 > 0:09:40Seriously deep snow.
0:09:40 > 0:09:45We lost six weeks of work and we were still in rented accommodation.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47We still had site huts and site equipment
0:09:47 > 0:09:49and every day cost money, really.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52One of the low points in the build.
0:09:52 > 0:09:57It wasn't like you could say, "Look what we've got." We basically had a building site. Yeah.
0:09:57 > 0:10:02Keeping costs down on a renovation of this size can be quite a challenge.
0:10:02 > 0:10:06We'd set a budget of 300-350,000 and we got a builder round,
0:10:06 > 0:10:09gave us a quote which just seemed absolutely ridiculous.
0:10:09 > 0:10:13All I'll say without saying too much was he was a darn side nearer
0:10:13 > 0:10:17what it ended up costing than anybody else had been!
0:10:17 > 0:10:21With total build costs of around 700,000, the Gordons were
0:10:21 > 0:10:24keen to stop paying rent on top and move in as soon as possible.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28Because it wasn't finished when we moved in,
0:10:28 > 0:10:31every day a new light fitting would arrive or a carpet would be
0:10:31 > 0:10:36put down and so it just kept getting better and better. It was just brilliant.
0:10:36 > 0:10:40We'd been working towards this dream for two years and although I could
0:10:40 > 0:10:42visualise what it was going to be like,
0:10:42 > 0:10:45actually living in it was just a dream come true.
0:10:45 > 0:10:49The sedum roof makes it blend into the hillside
0:10:49 > 0:10:52and then the upstairs is a very selfish use of space.
0:10:52 > 0:10:56There's two bedrooms upstairs, but you could have put a whole multitude of rooms up there.
0:10:56 > 0:10:58The open plan works very well,
0:10:58 > 0:11:01although I occasionally find it not cosy enough,
0:11:01 > 0:11:05so I would quite like a more snug room where you might retreat to.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07That's one of my plans, to extend it.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10Yeah, cos it's not quite big enough(!)
0:11:11 > 0:11:15It's often the finishing off of a project which you just don't allow for.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18We sort of finished things off over the next year.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22We still haven't finished things. We've still got no doors on the study.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24Shelves. I'm working on him!
0:11:24 > 0:11:27SHE LAUGHS
0:11:27 > 0:11:29There's always a project.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35Large numbers of empty properties in one part of the city
0:11:35 > 0:11:38or a specific area are often the result of a structural change,
0:11:38 > 0:11:41a decline in local industry.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44Manchester had a housing boom during the industrial revolution, but
0:11:44 > 0:11:49now the area of Openshaw has empty properties dotted on virtually
0:11:49 > 0:11:51every street.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55To deal with this issue head on, the council and a local building
0:11:55 > 0:11:59contractor united to try and kick this problem into touch.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05With 27 properties to tackle, Steven Weir is determined that
0:12:05 > 0:12:08families should live in these homes once again.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13These 27 properties in Manchester fell into disrepair over
0:12:13 > 0:12:16a number of years and we were approached by Manchester to
0:12:16 > 0:12:20enter into a development agreement with them to bring them back into circulation.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24The majority of the properties are derelict, infested with vermin,
0:12:24 > 0:12:29evidence of drug use in a lot of them. Just in a very terrible state of repair.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32Projects like this can have a kind of domino effect. It brings the whole area up.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35What we're finding is that now we've started on these properties,
0:12:35 > 0:12:38other local landlords are starting to realise
0:12:38 > 0:12:42they need bringing their properties up to the standard that we are.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44So it's a domino effect.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47You're a construction company, but are you using local people? How does it all work?
0:12:47 > 0:12:50We've also entered into another partnership with Manchester College,
0:12:50 > 0:12:53so we're able to offer training opportunities to young people.
0:12:53 > 0:12:57This is experience they can't get in a simulated environment in the classroom.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00Shall we have a look inside? Sure. Yeah. Follow me.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04We fully gutted this property, back to the bare structural walls.
0:13:04 > 0:13:09This house now is ready for plastering. You've got some guys working here at the moment.
0:13:09 > 0:13:13Yeah, we've got some apprentices upstairs. Can I go and say hello? Yeah, sure.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16'To add greater social purpose,
0:13:16 > 0:13:18'they're also working with the Manchester College,
0:13:18 > 0:13:22'offering their students vital hands-on work experience.'
0:13:22 > 0:13:25Hi, guys, how are you doing? Ashford. Hello, Ashford.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27My name's Reece. Reece, I'm Joe.
0:13:27 > 0:13:32Good to see you, so you guys are both apprentices or trainees? Yeah.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36I'm a... I do, like, plastering at the college that I go to.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40So these buildings give you a chance to work on real-life projects.
0:13:40 > 0:13:44You get to learn what you've got to do in the outside world, instead of
0:13:44 > 0:13:48being just in a workshop all the time. Yeah, and I suppose a certain discipline comes with
0:13:48 > 0:13:50being on site, getting here on time
0:13:50 > 0:13:53and working with other people around you as well. Yeah, teamwork.
0:13:53 > 0:13:58Yeah, very good. So Ash is doing plastering. What's your specialism?
0:13:58 > 0:14:03I'm doing joinery. So I'm keeping the insulation in.
0:14:03 > 0:14:06What do you guys think about these properties sitting empty?
0:14:06 > 0:14:08It seems a bit of a waste when no-one's here.
0:14:08 > 0:14:13Especially when there's people living in the houses and there's just one house not being used.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16Is it going to be good to see people back in here, living in these houses?
0:14:16 > 0:14:20Yeah, it would. Yeah. And they can admire your plasterwork as well.
0:14:20 > 0:14:21Yeah! Cheers.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23Take care. Cheers. All the best.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29I've seen the before photo and Steven is about to show me
0:14:29 > 0:14:31what they look like now.
0:14:31 > 0:14:37This is a recently completed three bedroom terrace. Ah, very nice.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41This took, what, roughly ten weeks? Ten weeks from start to completion.
0:14:41 > 0:14:46Amazing. Do you know roughly what a three bedroom house like this would go for in this area?
0:14:46 > 0:14:49I would say probably in the region of ?70,000.
0:14:49 > 0:14:51And so how soon do you think someone could be in here?
0:14:51 > 0:14:55A matter of weeks. Really? Yeah. It's very spacious.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58It's got high ceilings. Large rooms. It's ideal for a young family.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01Originally, these were built for local working
0:15:01 > 0:15:04people in Manchester, and that can now be the same.
0:15:04 > 0:15:10You've preserved them for hopefully another 100 years. I'd like to think so.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13The figures in this part of the country are truly staggering.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17In Greater Manchester, there are 25,000 properties that have
0:15:17 > 0:15:19been empty for a significant period of time.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23Thankfully, this one is no longer on that list
0:15:23 > 0:15:26and to think that this project, in the space of nine months,
0:15:26 > 0:15:29will renovate 27 properties and get them
0:15:29 > 0:15:32ready for local families to move into is just brilliant.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35It really will boost this community.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37Across Britain,
0:15:37 > 0:15:41local councils are fighting to get families back into housing.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44And it's the empty property officers who are carrying out detective work
0:15:44 > 0:15:49on our abandoned homes and working to get them brought back into use.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53In Erdington, Birmingham, Matt Smith is on his way to two half
0:15:53 > 0:15:56finished houses that for several years have sat derelict,
0:15:56 > 0:15:58attracting the wrong kind of attention.
0:15:58 > 0:16:03The property that we're going to now, the current owner bought the house about five years ago
0:16:03 > 0:16:06and got planning permission to develop two properties on the land.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10He's run out of money and so he's done very little work.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13It's been attracting theft and people are entering the property,
0:16:13 > 0:16:16mainly due to the scaffolding allowing easy access into the house.
0:16:16 > 0:16:21The property's also been subject to rats in and outside the house.
0:16:21 > 0:16:24I had no choice but to use the council's enforcement powers
0:16:24 > 0:16:27to threaten a compulsory purchase order.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30After being told he could be forced to sell
0:16:30 > 0:16:32the buildings by the council, one month ago,
0:16:32 > 0:16:36the owner contacted them and agreed to finish the renovation work.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40Matt is here to make sure the owner is being true to his word.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42That's a good sign.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46The gates are open, so I'm going to be able to get inside the property.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49Slightly negative that it doesn't look
0:16:49 > 0:16:52as if he's done half the work that I expected him to do.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56He said it would be completed within a couple of months, but I just can't see that myself.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00The landlord is not on site today but there is a builder,
0:17:00 > 0:17:04so Matt takes the opportunity to see how the work is progressing.
0:17:04 > 0:17:05Hello? Yes.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08How are you doing? Matt Smith from Birmingham City Council.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11Good to see you. Nice to see you, sir. How are you getting on?
0:17:11 > 0:17:15It's OK. Do you want to show us some of the work you have been doing?
0:17:15 > 0:17:18Let's go, I'll show you the bedrooms.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20Only once Matt is inside the building
0:17:20 > 0:17:22can he assess its true condition.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26The bedroom, we try now the plasterboard.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29And you've been doing some roof work as well? Yes.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32The roof is complete now. That is pretty good.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35Inside, there is so much work I can see being done.
0:17:35 > 0:17:40From outside, you cannot see. How long is it going to be before you finish this house?
0:17:40 > 0:17:41About four weeks.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45Can you show us the roof in the other property as well? Yes, all right.
0:17:45 > 0:17:46We have to go down.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49The existing house is nearing completion and
0:17:49 > 0:17:53although the new build next door is further off, work is well under way.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55Where is the staircase? The stairs will be here.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58You're going to put the stairs there, OK.
0:17:58 > 0:18:01We will be going like this, all around, up. All the roof is done.
0:18:01 > 0:18:06So you've had to put felt on it as well. Yes, it is all felted, yes.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10That's really good work. Yes. It's going to be great. Yes, all right.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13Brilliant, nice one. See you again. Bye.
0:18:13 > 0:18:14That's actually been great.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18First impressions when I turned up, I saw the scaffolding and I was really worried about
0:18:18 > 0:18:23how much work had been done but now I've had a good look inside, lots of plaster work in progress,
0:18:23 > 0:18:26it's really coming along more than I actually expected out of today.
0:18:26 > 0:18:29And I think I've got such good news, I'm going to share it with
0:18:29 > 0:18:32the immediate neighbour who's had to put up with all the problems.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35Hi, Jane. How are you doing? Hello, Matt. Nice to see you again.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38I've just been round to the house next door.
0:18:38 > 0:18:41I think we've got some pretty good news. It's really moving on.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45That's good. He's going to finish the first house probably just over a month or so's time,
0:18:45 > 0:18:49which is great. Then the second house is gone to follow on from that,
0:18:49 > 0:18:52probably a couple of months after that. So what will this mean to you, then?
0:18:52 > 0:18:55That's just really good news. I'm really pleased to hear that.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58It's been a real burden, to be honest.
0:18:58 > 0:19:01The last six years, having to live next door to this empty property.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04We've got three children, they haven't wanted to play outside
0:19:04 > 0:19:07in the garden because we've had youths climbing on the scaffolding.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11I had a bike stolen cos they'd had access through the fence
0:19:11 > 0:19:13because it was such a state of disrepair,
0:19:13 > 0:19:16and one evening I actually came home and there were some
0:19:16 > 0:19:19youths in the garden and they actually threatened me.
0:19:19 > 0:19:21They threatened to come over and do me! So we had to call the police.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25And then we had to explain to our own children why the police were here.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29That's going to be great, not just for your own family, the neighbourhood as well.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32We might even have a garden party to celebrate. A great way to celebrate.
0:19:32 > 0:19:37OK, great to see you again. OK, Mark. Take care. Good to see you. Bye-bye.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39The property's been empty for five years.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42Having now gone inside, it's superb to see work finally been carried out
0:19:42 > 0:19:46and this is why I do this job, to see such a problematic house
0:19:46 > 0:19:50finally coming back into use to the benefit of everybody.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53If you're interested in tracking down a disused house to
0:19:53 > 0:19:56turn into a home, then your local empty property officer
0:19:56 > 0:19:59should be one of your first ports of call.
0:19:59 > 0:20:04Also ask around the local estate agents and keep a lookout for signs of abandoned buildings.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10Back in Leeds, I'm with Simon and Kari, who bought an old
0:20:10 > 0:20:15Methodist chapel and are busy trying to turn it into a wonderful new home.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18To help them, I've brought them to nearby York to introduce them
0:20:18 > 0:20:21to a man who completed his own minor miracle,
0:20:21 > 0:20:24turning an old chapel into an amazing house.
0:20:24 > 0:20:27Right, guys. This is the property I've brought you to see.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30I imagine you can tell what it is from the outside. What do you think?
0:20:30 > 0:20:32Yeah, a chapel. Chapel, exactly. I love it. It's great.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36The windows are fantastic. It's a bit younger than yours, it's 1900.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38It's been taken on by a guy called Ben.
0:20:38 > 0:20:40Before he had it, it stood empty for about two years.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42It was a glaziers in there so it had an industrial use,
0:20:42 > 0:20:44a bit like your chapel as well.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46So let's go and say hello, shall we?
0:20:50 > 0:20:52Engineer Ben Shaw was looking for a live-work space
0:20:52 > 0:20:56when his attention was brought to this old Methodist chapel.
0:20:56 > 0:21:00Being someone who likes to make things, I wanted to be able to
0:21:00 > 0:21:02make things for a house that I was going to live in.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04A friend of mine pointed it out with its workshop.
0:21:04 > 0:21:09And my first impressions of the place when I walked in was fantastic, really.
0:21:09 > 0:21:13It had a lot of space and I could see a huge amount of potential.
0:21:13 > 0:21:18Yet it was completely uninhabitable and cost Ben ?250,000.
0:21:18 > 0:21:20Because it was a commercial building, there was
0:21:20 > 0:21:24nothing that really could remain beyond the bare walls.
0:21:24 > 0:21:26We even had to take the roof off.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30There was no insulation on the floor or the ceiling or the walls.
0:21:30 > 0:21:33You know, when you look at change of use and building regs,
0:21:33 > 0:21:36this all has to happen. You can't not do it.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39The early days of this project were hardly plain sailing.
0:21:39 > 0:21:41My relationship with the first builders degraded.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44When you come back from a full day of work and you open the door
0:21:44 > 0:21:48and you can see much progress, but you've got another bill in your hand,
0:21:48 > 0:21:51it's, you know, you sit there thinking, God, is it going to end?
0:21:51 > 0:21:55But with new builders in place, the project was back on track and Ben
0:21:55 > 0:21:59could start to see his vision for an ecological sound home taking shape.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01I like to be green where possible.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04Rainwater harvesting and solar thermal,
0:22:04 > 0:22:06they were both things that I was very keen on putting in.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09I started getting excited about the property when you can actually
0:22:09 > 0:22:12start to see some of the finished aspects of the room.
0:22:12 > 0:22:15I love the luxury of walking around and having a lot of space.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19And light as well. You know, there's a lot of light come in.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21The roof terrace is just fantastic.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25One thing that stuck in my mind was the saying, truth to materials.
0:22:25 > 0:22:30Not to try and dress something up to be something that it isn't.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33I like all the features that I've had a hand in, you know.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35Whether it's design or actually building of the pieces.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37It's all been pretty rewarding.
0:22:40 > 0:22:46Oh, wow. So, have a good look around. There is plenty to take in.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48Fantastic. Amazing.
0:22:48 > 0:22:50Ben, maybe you could start us off by telling us
0:22:50 > 0:22:52what this was like when you took it on?
0:22:52 > 0:22:54It was actually in pretty good shape, you know.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57I've think the Victorians put up a fairly good structure, you know.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00The beans are all true and no rot or anything like that. Very good.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03Because you got the clearly designated areas,
0:23:03 > 0:23:05but it's still got an open feel to it, which is
0:23:05 > 0:23:08something we're going to try and achieve with ours.
0:23:08 > 0:23:09How did you want to configure it to
0:23:09 > 0:23:11have exactly what you wanted in this space?
0:23:11 > 0:23:14My primary goal has always been to have a big workshop.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18And, you know, now I can have dinner and just walk two yards
0:23:18 > 0:23:19and I'm in my workshop!
0:23:19 > 0:23:21We've got chapel of rest off to the side,
0:23:21 > 0:23:24that's going to be my music room. So, exactly the same for me.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27You know, having a space just off the main living area where
0:23:27 > 0:23:29I can go and work is going to be fantastic.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31And you're going to be creating a kitchen from scratch.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33I mean, what do you make of what you see there?
0:23:33 > 0:23:35The concrete worktops are fantastic.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37That's something we decided on early on, wasn't it? That we wanted.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40But we thought that cost might make it impossible.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44I made those ones myself, actually. I thought you might say that! It's not too difficult,
0:23:44 > 0:23:47But it is time-consuming. Oh, really? You can cast little details.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50You'll see that I've put keys from 1952 to do with the chapel.
0:23:50 > 0:23:55There's one in each worktop. You know, if I'd have got someone to do that professionally,
0:23:55 > 0:23:57I think it would have been over 10 or ?15,000.
0:23:57 > 0:23:59I think you've been really clever because you've got the curve
0:23:59 > 0:24:02of the kitchen floor matching the curve of the worktop there.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05And it also distinguishes where the kitchen is and where it ends.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07I can really see us doing that and it gives me
0:24:07 > 0:24:09some ideas of how we're going to divide everything up.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11We're looking at having underfloor heating.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14Everybody that we've spoken to says it's better to have a concrete floor
0:24:14 > 0:24:16screed in and then put a flooring over the top.
0:24:16 > 0:24:18That's what I've done here, actually. Oh, OK.
0:24:18 > 0:24:21These floorboards, they were thick, they're Victorian ones.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24I ended up planing them down sort of underfloor thickness.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27So it allows the heat through. Yeah. I suppose that's the other thing,
0:24:27 > 0:24:30if your floor is actually quite thin. you're thinking it can't hold the weight,
0:24:30 > 0:24:33it might be the right thickness to go on top of underfloor heating
0:24:33 > 0:24:35once you've laid down everything else. Especially if we do
0:24:35 > 0:24:38a different flooring for the kitchen section. Yeah.
0:24:38 > 0:24:39We'd have enough to do the rest of it.
0:24:39 > 0:24:43Yeah, and actually, that might be a very authentic way of keeping some of the history.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45It's been difficult for me to visualise how we're going to
0:24:45 > 0:24:49make that work, you know, combine the old and new. And making it a success.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52But you can see straight away that it does work really well.
0:24:52 > 0:24:54I'm curious to find out what this is, actually.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57Yeah? Would you like to have a look? Yeah, definitely.
0:25:02 > 0:25:04Extravagant toy! Incredible, isn't it?
0:25:04 > 0:25:09And it's more than a few bottles of wine, as well! It holds 275 bottles.
0:25:09 > 0:25:13I designed and built it with a friend of mine.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15That's the point, I guess.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17if you take an empty property, and if you're completely open-minded,
0:25:17 > 0:25:19you can pretty much do anything.
0:25:19 > 0:25:21Well, look, this is all a bit too tempting.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24I suggest no glasses of wine at this point,
0:25:24 > 0:25:27let's continue the tour, shall we?
0:25:27 > 0:25:30Let me show you upstairs in the master bedroom.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33Did you design these stairs yourself?
0:25:33 > 0:25:37Yes, I had a friend helped me who does that for a living.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40They look fantastic.
0:25:40 > 0:25:41We can see up here, the ceiling,
0:25:41 > 0:25:43the wood goes the whole length of the building.
0:25:43 > 0:25:44And that's all original.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48Yeah, it was one of the features that really stood out immediately I walked into the property.
0:25:48 > 0:25:52It was covered in a dark varnish and the workshop was painted white.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54But we wanted to sandblast them
0:25:54 > 0:25:56and bring them back up to their natural colour.
0:25:56 > 0:26:00You guys want to make your building as environmentally friendly as possible.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03Is that an aim you had? Is that something you've managed to achieve?
0:26:03 > 0:26:07Yeah, I've tried to put a lot of green emphasis into the build.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11The entire roof system runs off into a large underground 5,000 litre tank.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14Wow. We clean it and supply it back again to the house.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17These guys are thinking about, you know, air source heat pumps.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20How do you power this property, are you on gas? I am on gas, yeah.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23I did do a lot of thinking about it. Being green is expensive these days.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26Gas boilers are still very, very cheap, in comparison.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29Everyone we spoke to gave us a different opinion on air source heat pumps.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32Stuff I've read suggests that gas boilers can be
0:26:32 > 0:26:35just as efficient as the air source heat pumps. I don't doubt it.
0:26:35 > 0:26:39That's the same problem I had, is some sort of clarification.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41Who do you trust? What information do you believe.
0:26:41 > 0:26:43Sometimes when I'm up at the building site and looking at all
0:26:43 > 0:26:46the jobs that need doing, it can become a bit overwhelming.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49Even small details, you think they're going to take a week to do.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51Is that something you found?
0:26:51 > 0:26:53Did you try not to worry too much about the small details
0:26:53 > 0:26:55and think that it would all take care of itself?
0:26:55 > 0:26:57I think it's a project that never finishes!
0:26:57 > 0:27:00You'll constantly be looking to do little bits and pieces. Yeah.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03Brilliant, Well, look, it's amazing to see round.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05And I think it's a very close match to what you're dealing with.
0:27:05 > 0:27:07So I hope it's been really useful.
0:27:07 > 0:27:11But thanks for your time and for your advice as well. My pleasure. Thanks very much. Thank you.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15Has today been useful? Absolutely. Massively useful, yeah.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19Just to see the old mixed with the new, really. Come to life.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22For me, I think the wood here gives the property a particular warmth.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25Yeah. Yes. If you can keep that wood floor, little things like that,
0:27:25 > 0:27:28that might be worth considering, do you think? Yeah. Good luck with it.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31It's a really unique property. Thank you.
0:27:31 > 0:27:33The best bit is, I can see how excited you guys are with it. Yeah.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36It's a good boost for us, isn't it? It's something really positive.
0:27:36 > 0:27:39And, you know, especially the stage we're at.
0:27:39 > 0:27:40We need that enthusiasm to keep going
0:27:40 > 0:27:44and I think this has definitely been that for us. So, really useful.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46Best of luck with it. Thank you. Thanks very much.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50I'm really pleased that Simon and Kari could see this place today.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52Yes, they're already well into their own project,
0:27:52 > 0:27:55but it never hurts to have a bit more inspiration, to see
0:27:55 > 0:27:57how someone else has used a space.
0:27:57 > 0:28:02And also, I think it will really give them confidence to play with their ideas.
0:28:02 > 0:28:06To be bold and to do everything they want to make it a very personal home for them.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09So I know they've got a lot of work ahead of them.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12But I've got a very good feeling they'll be finished in time,
0:28:12 > 0:28:15so they've got a lovely home when the baby arrives.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46TENOR SINGS ROUSING ITALIAN SONG