0:00:03 > 0:00:06Across the country, empty properties that could be homes
0:00:06 > 0:00:08are just waiting to be brought back into use.
0:00:10 > 0:00:14I'll be finding out why, and what you need to do to rescue a house for yourself.
0:00:15 > 0:00:17And along the way, I'll be doing some digging of my own
0:00:17 > 0:00:20to find out more about our housing stock, our heritage
0:00:20 > 0:00:25and why we should be both reinventing and preserving Britain's empty homes.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33Taking on an empty property is certainly not for the faint-hearted.
0:00:33 > 0:00:38They can require a huge amount of dedication, long hours and hard work.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40But for those brave enough to take one on,
0:00:40 > 0:00:42there are plenty of rewards,
0:00:42 > 0:00:46and for first-time buyers, it can be that all-important step
0:00:46 > 0:00:48onto the housing ladder.
0:00:50 > 0:00:55On today's show, a couple renovating not one, but two, derelict cottages.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59Did you get a bit carried away? Did you mean buy both? I did, really, yeah.
0:01:01 > 0:01:05An all-singing, all-dancing project to regenerate this vacant town hall.
0:01:05 > 0:01:11Part of the thing was the community side, especially based on Elaine's dance school.
0:01:11 > 0:01:15Some of my pupils think it looks like Fame or something!
0:01:15 > 0:01:20And an Empty Property Officer helping breathe new life into an abandoned abode.
0:01:20 > 0:01:24'I can see the tenants being very happy there.'
0:01:24 > 0:01:26This is just such a positive outcome.
0:01:26 > 0:01:31Near Stamford, Lincolnshire, agricultural engineer Josh Spencer and his girlfriend Samantha,
0:01:31 > 0:01:36thought they'd sniffed out a bargain when they bought these two derelict neighbouring cottages.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39We walked into the house, and the first thing that caught us was the smell.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42It was quite pungent when we first came in.
0:01:42 > 0:01:46It had obviously been empty for a number of years. Quite dingy.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48But you've got to see past that.
0:01:48 > 0:01:49From the outside, it's an ideal property.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53but from when you first walk in, it's not that good.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55It's a blank canvas, though, from the inside.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59They're clearly in need of plenty of work, but that's why these first-time buyers
0:01:59 > 0:02:03were able to pick up two cottages for ?130,000.
0:02:03 > 0:02:08The reason I bought these properties was that they were affordable
0:02:08 > 0:02:09and in my reach.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13Also, the location was ideal for work.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17We also liked the property as it's on quite a large plot
0:02:17 > 0:02:19which, especially in the price range we were looking at,
0:02:19 > 0:02:22you're quite restricted on gardens and outdoor space.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24Yeah.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26The couple have grand plans,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29but a very modest renovation fund.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32We've got quite a small budget to do the house up on.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35It's...about five grand?
0:02:35 > 0:02:39Yeah. The budget I've given, everyone's a little bit negative on it
0:02:39 > 0:02:42and say that it can't be done.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46But I'd like to prove them wrong that it can.
0:02:46 > 0:02:49So we are going to go down the route of reclamation.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52Obviously if we can get things at a cheaper price,
0:02:52 > 0:02:56and also because we're going for the shabby chic kind of look.
0:02:56 > 0:02:58Older the better, really.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01We'll probably use that to our advantage, won't we? Yeah.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04This is Josh and Samantha's first restoration project.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07Despite their inexperience and only ?5,000 to spend,
0:03:07 > 0:03:12agricultural engineer Josh feels he's pretty handy, and is determined to crack on.
0:03:12 > 0:03:17The dream is to get on and get it done and see the finished article.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19I personally find it a bit unbelievable at this point,
0:03:19 > 0:03:21but Josh reckons he can do it
0:03:21 > 0:03:26and I believe in him, so we'll just have to keep everything crossed!
0:03:27 > 0:03:32I'm excited to hear the couple's plans for these two derelict dwellings.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37Did you get a bit carried away? Did you mean to buy both? Yeah, I did, really.
0:03:37 > 0:03:43A bit in the excitement, yeah. How long have these properties sat empty for?
0:03:43 > 0:03:46About 18 months, two years. So a little while.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49Shall we go and have a look inside? Yep. Sounds good.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53'From the outside, this is an impressive-looking pair of houses.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57'But it's the state of the interior that will dictate the scale of the renovation.'
0:03:57 > 0:03:59Goodness!
0:03:59 > 0:04:03It's quite a striking appearance, isn't it, particularly run down.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05What was your first impression when you came in here?
0:04:05 > 0:04:10When I first came in here, I'd really noticed the outside more than the inside,
0:04:10 > 0:04:12so I wasn't too put off by the inside.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15We wanted something we could put our own mark on,
0:04:15 > 0:04:18and because we wanted to get on the property ladder in the right area,
0:04:18 > 0:04:20sometimes you have to take the hit.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22Let's start at the beginning. What's the big plan?
0:04:22 > 0:04:26The main plan is to take all the walls out
0:04:26 > 0:04:28and start with a blank canvas, really.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31A lot of these are only studded walls,
0:04:31 > 0:04:33so they'll all come out fairly easily.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36When you say all the walls, literally every wall?
0:04:36 > 0:04:40Obviously not this one cos this is the middle of the two houses.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42But there will be an archway through there.
0:04:42 > 0:04:46We're thinking that the whole of this side will be a large lounge,
0:04:46 > 0:04:48maybe with some sort of hallway and stairs,
0:04:48 > 0:04:51and the other side will be a large kitchen diner.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54And then upstairs you've got two bedrooms at the moment.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58Is there a bathroom upstairs? There's three bedrooms in each... Three bedrooms?
0:04:58 > 0:05:01Three bedrooms upstairs. But there's no bathroom upstairs. OK.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04'So, the grand plan, after knocking through,
0:05:04 > 0:05:07'is to create a large four-bedroomed house
0:05:07 > 0:05:09'with one main bathroom upstairs,
0:05:09 > 0:05:11'an en-suite in the master bedroom,
0:05:11 > 0:05:12'and a wet room downstairs.'
0:05:12 > 0:05:16What is it that you're keeping? Are you keeping things like fireplaces?
0:05:16 > 0:05:18Yes, we want to keep both fireplaces.
0:05:18 > 0:05:23I keep saying to Josh, you've bought old cottages. Why do you want to turn them into a new house?
0:05:23 > 0:05:28If you wanted a new house where it's all very square and very regimented,
0:05:28 > 0:05:31you should have just bought a new house. Or bought a plot and built one on it.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35If I had the budget, I'd knock 'em down and build a house further back.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37Right. Expensive building plot!
0:05:39 > 0:05:42This is the conflict between you, I can see.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46You want quite simple, quite clean, quite modern.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48And you're more sympathetic to the buildings themselves
0:05:48 > 0:05:50and wanting to keep a few things as they are.
0:05:50 > 0:05:55'Josh and Samantha may have a difference of opinion on how to decorate,
0:05:55 > 0:05:57'but the first thing they need to consider
0:05:57 > 0:05:59'is how best to merge these two homes.'
0:06:01 > 0:06:04Presumably, whoever last lived here just left this behind.
0:06:04 > 0:06:09'It's evident the second house was occupied more recently than the first.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12'But it's still going to need major work to make it habitable.'
0:06:14 > 0:06:19So this would be opened up. You've got bathroom, kitchen, this front room, all as one.
0:06:19 > 0:06:21Yep. And a big open kitchen diner.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24Who's going to be doing all this work? Josh.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26Josh? Yes. Mm.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28Well, as much as I can do.
0:06:28 > 0:06:31Most of the jobs, like re-roofing and that, it's just hard labour.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33You also need a lot of confidence.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36You feel you can just tackle it and give it a go? Yeah.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40The only thing I'd drop in is that mistakes can be quite expensive. Yes.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43So what's the budget looking like for this?
0:06:43 > 0:06:45The budget's small. It is small. OK.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47How small?
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Five grand. OK.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53Yeah. Max. There's not a lot to play with,
0:06:53 > 0:06:55so we've got to be quite careful.
0:06:55 > 0:07:00But most of that is going to be on materials as opposed to paying people to do stuff.
0:07:00 > 0:07:01Josh will do most of it.
0:07:01 > 0:07:06I understand that you save money by labouring and doing as much of the work yourselves as possible.
0:07:06 > 0:07:11Even so, that's particularly small for... It's all we've got.
0:07:11 > 0:07:16When you go down the reclamation route, it does make things an awful lot cheaper.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20Tell me about that vision, then. How would you like this place to be? Is there a different vision here?
0:07:20 > 0:07:24When you say reclamation, you want nice features? How's it going to be?
0:07:24 > 0:07:26I want it to be quite rustic. OK.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30I don't really like anything too modern. OK.
0:07:30 > 0:07:32It's not really my cup of tea. I don't think it's Josh's, either.
0:07:32 > 0:07:34He thinks he is... I don't like clutter.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38Because of that, you're thinking, clean, simple, modern inside. Definitely.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42OK. A lot to think about there. Let's see a bit more, shall we?
0:07:42 > 0:07:44'There's no getting away from it.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48'?5,000 is a miniscule budget for such an ambitious project.
0:07:48 > 0:07:52'However, a property like this round here in a good condition
0:07:52 > 0:07:54'could fetch around quarter of a million pounds.'
0:07:54 > 0:07:57Looking ahead at the project,
0:07:57 > 0:08:01how are you feeling about it? It's huge and obviously there's a lot to do.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03You want to do it yourselves, first time you've done this
0:08:03 > 0:08:05and there isn't much money.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07Does that worry you?
0:08:07 > 0:08:09It only worries me when I think about it!
0:08:09 > 0:08:13When I turn up and look at the jobs, I think, "Should I have done it?"
0:08:13 > 0:08:15It's more wondering where to start, isn't it?
0:08:15 > 0:08:19Lots of things to talk about there. What'll be good is to see a property
0:08:19 > 0:08:21that has been completed, has been renovated.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24There are loads of similarities in terms of two into one,
0:08:24 > 0:08:26being done on a shoestring budget,
0:08:26 > 0:08:29in terms of them doing a lot of the work themselves.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31So hopefully some great inspiration,
0:08:31 > 0:08:35but also some really good advice. Maybe the practical side of things, Josh. Definitely.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38Does that sound good? Yeah! Brilliant.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42This is a brilliant project for Josh and Sam. Such a unique opportunity
0:08:42 > 0:08:45to create their first home together here in the country.
0:08:45 > 0:08:49However, as challenges go, they don't come much bigger.
0:08:49 > 0:08:52Josh is doing all the work himself,
0:08:52 > 0:08:56the budget is so small, and, frankly, there's so much to do.
0:08:56 > 0:09:00So it'll be really good for them to meet a couple who've been through all this before
0:09:00 > 0:09:02and importantly, they've taken on a similar-sized project
0:09:02 > 0:09:05also on a shoe-string budget.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10Not every vacant house is lucky enough to get snapped up.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13All across Britain, there are buildings left empty and abandoned
0:09:13 > 0:09:16waiting to have life breathed back into them.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18And the people whose job it is to seek out these buildings
0:09:18 > 0:09:23and get them back into use are local council Empty Property Officers.
0:09:24 > 0:09:26In Maidstone, Kent, Katrina Hurton is visiting a building
0:09:26 > 0:09:29that's sat empty for over two years
0:09:29 > 0:09:32and had been attracting a lot of anti-social behaviour.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35Today I'm visiting a property.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39It's a purpose-built block of four flats.
0:09:39 > 0:09:43Because of the antisocial behaviour that was happening around the property,
0:09:43 > 0:09:50when the tenants moved out, they weren't replaced and the property was falling into disrepair
0:09:50 > 0:09:53and soon became unoccupied.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56To tackle the problem, the council were able to give the owner
0:09:56 > 0:09:59a one-off grant to bring the building back to life
0:09:59 > 0:10:02and create new homes for social housing.
0:10:02 > 0:10:09Today I'm checking to see if everything in the flat meets the council's standards
0:10:09 > 0:10:13as we are housing tenants that were previously on our waiting list.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Katrina is joined by her colleague Julian Watts
0:10:17 > 0:10:21to inspect the renovation and make sure the work is up to the council's high standards.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27I remember seeing these windows, completely smashed. Yeah.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30And all the lights were hanging off.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33Yeah, it's got new lighting. That's good.
0:10:33 > 0:10:35It's got the gate now. That's good.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37So people can't get round the back.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40This is... I like this. Instead of going in there.
0:10:40 > 0:10:42To put their post in. That's good.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44Mr Dowling. How are you?
0:10:44 > 0:10:47'Alan Dowling is the owner as well as being a developer,
0:10:47 > 0:10:49'and is here to meet the council officers.'
0:10:49 > 0:10:53The door opens outwards now. It used to open inwards,
0:10:53 > 0:10:56so it could be sort of kicked down. That's good.
0:10:56 > 0:11:02Yes, it's got a safety feature on it so it should automatically close.
0:11:02 > 0:11:08Yep. Exit is on a fire security thumb-turn opener.
0:11:08 > 0:11:13And you've got your push... So it's quite easy to open.
0:11:13 > 0:11:16To shut it. Lock it. Great.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20The mechanism's internal. Yep. So you don't have any intruders at night.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24You've done a grand job. I remember when there was a big hole here.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27And the carpets were all burned.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29There was a fire. Smashed windows. It's just amazing.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32You've done a grand job.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34It's a pleasure to bring empty homes back.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37Definitely. It's one of our core businesses at the moment.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40This building has been split into four separate flats.
0:11:40 > 0:11:44Katrina is keen to meet one of the tenants and have a close look around.
0:11:44 > 0:11:48Hello. Hiya. I'm Katrina and this is Julian.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52We're from the council. We're just inspecting today. OK. Come in.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00Everything working OK? Yep. Electrics, heating, hot water.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04Yep. Is it OK to have a look around? Yes, fine. Brilliant.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09Katrina and Julian carry out a detailed inspection of all the renovation work.
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Everything seems to be in good order.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18Now to make sure the tenant's happy, too.
0:12:18 > 0:12:22How's it been? It's fine, I really like it. Yeah?
0:12:22 > 0:12:24No problems? No.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Is this nicer here than where you were before?
0:12:27 > 0:12:31It feels like I'm at home now. OK. It's more homely for you.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34Much better. I'm more in a routine now.
0:12:34 > 0:12:36With social housing thin on the ground,
0:12:36 > 0:12:41these transformed flats have made all the difference to the people that need them.
0:12:41 > 0:12:43When I was in the hostel, I saw a lot of empty places
0:12:43 > 0:12:47and I was thinking that me and Freddy could be living in them.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49Now I've got my own place, I really like it, yeah.
0:12:49 > 0:12:54Mr Dowling has done it all to a high standard, which is brilliant.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58I can see the tenants being very happy there
0:12:58 > 0:13:00and this is such a positive outcome.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04And it's really good for the community.
0:13:06 > 0:13:09If you're interested in tracking down a disused house to turn into a home,
0:13:09 > 0:13:13then your local Empty Property Officer should be one of your first ports of call.
0:13:13 > 0:13:19Also ask around the local estate agents and keep your eyes peeled for signs of abandoned buildings.
0:13:21 > 0:13:22In East Hanningfield, Essex,
0:13:22 > 0:13:25David Cooper was looking for an exciting renovation project
0:13:25 > 0:13:29when he paid ?200,000 for this barn and surrounding land.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33To me, it looked like an ideal project,
0:13:33 > 0:13:35rather than just a house to alter.
0:13:35 > 0:13:39I wanted something I could really alter or really build.
0:13:39 > 0:13:41Having been empty for 21 years,
0:13:41 > 0:13:43it was totally uninhabitable.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47When I first saw the barn, it was completely covered with brambles
0:13:47 > 0:13:49that went right up to the roof.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52I had to force the front door open to look inside.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56But fortunately, most of the roof was still intact.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00And there wasn't that much damp that had actually got into the building,
0:14:00 > 0:14:03which saved it over the years, to be honest.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05There was definitely a lot of potential there.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09My family, my children, all thought I was a bit mad,
0:14:09 > 0:14:11but I didn't think like that at all.
0:14:11 > 0:14:12So I just carried on.
0:14:13 > 0:14:15Initially, it looked fairly sound.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18I must be honest, it looked more sound than it was.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22Until later, on full investigation,
0:14:22 > 0:14:24I realised how poor the building was.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27Basically, the frame of the barn was pretty rotten.
0:14:27 > 0:14:31That's the critical one, because everything stems from that.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33Being an electrician, David is handy,
0:14:33 > 0:14:37but installing a new timber frame meant calling in professional help.
0:14:37 > 0:14:42I was thrilled when I was introduced to a chap that does Essex barn builds.
0:14:42 > 0:14:44He's actually done his own one.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47It really made all the difference and made my life much simpler.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50The initial price was ?200,000
0:14:50 > 0:14:54and then I paid about 150,000 to actually get the development done.
0:14:54 > 0:15:00The value of my home now is 775,000 so it's increased quite considerably.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04And not only has it been extremely rewarding,
0:15:04 > 0:15:07more importantly, David has created his dream home.
0:15:07 > 0:15:12People have said to me, "Is it as good as you thought it would be?"
0:15:12 > 0:15:15And I can honestly say I think it's better than I thought it would be.
0:15:17 > 0:15:19As I do love the whole barn.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23We've got a nice kitchen, we've got a nice lounge.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26We've got some nice bedrooms. I put a library in.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29Pleased about the library. That was a later thought.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33The whole thing has worked out really well. I'm really pleased with it.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37It's better than I could possibly have thought, to be honest.
0:15:38 > 0:15:40In Newburn, near Newcastle,
0:15:40 > 0:15:45some creative thinking has saved a historic council building from dereliction.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51From the outside, this is a stunning Grade II-listed town hall
0:15:51 > 0:15:55that would have been at the heart of Newburn when it opened in 1904.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59I'm keen to have a look inside and hear about the plans in store
0:15:59 > 0:16:01to bring this place back into use.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05New owners David and Elaine are here to tell me more.
0:16:05 > 0:16:06Hello!
0:16:09 > 0:16:11Right. So this is the old council reception?
0:16:11 > 0:16:13This is the entrance to the building?
0:16:13 > 0:16:16Yes. I have to say that the thing that strikes me coming in here
0:16:16 > 0:16:18and seeing it from outside as well,
0:16:18 > 0:16:19it's massive!
0:16:19 > 0:16:22Mm! It is! What have you taken on?
0:16:22 > 0:16:25Well, we took on quite a bit, I think,
0:16:25 > 0:16:27but there's no going backwards now.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31It's something we've wanted to do for quite a while. A few years.
0:16:31 > 0:16:34'The council was particularly happy to sell to David and Elaine
0:16:34 > 0:16:38'because they're bringing this space back to the community.
0:16:38 > 0:16:42'Here, there'll be a new coffee shop, offices and studios for Elaine's dance school
0:16:42 > 0:16:45'as well as a home for the couple at the back of the property.'
0:16:45 > 0:16:49You've both got businesses. You do a dance school and you do design.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51Yeah. Yes, and then to live here as well.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54Even so, there is looking for a new dance studio
0:16:54 > 0:16:58and then there is taking on one of the biggest buildings in this area.
0:16:58 > 0:17:02Yes. And you put the two together there, didn't you?
0:17:02 > 0:17:08The thing is, when I rang, at first we said can we have a look around?
0:17:08 > 0:17:11We're not going to make a bid unless we can look around.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15So they did let us in before it went to sealed bids. OK.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19And when we got in, we realised the potential.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23As soon as we saw it, from the outside, it was perfect.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27It looks like such a regal building
0:17:27 > 0:17:31and some of my pupils think it looks like a dance academy,
0:17:31 > 0:17:35you know, Fame or something, with the pillars and everything.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37Yeah, absolutely. It does, really, I suppose.
0:17:37 > 0:17:40Let's have a look round. You can tell me your plans as we go.
0:17:40 > 0:17:42Shall we head through? Yes.
0:17:42 > 0:17:46'The first thing they're going to show me is the residential side of the building,
0:17:46 > 0:17:47'which they will call home.'
0:17:47 > 0:17:51From here onwards, this will be the start of our home.
0:17:51 > 0:17:56So your residential part of this building is going to be on how many floors?
0:17:56 > 0:17:58You've got ground, you've got minus one and plus one.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00It'll be on all three. OK.
0:18:00 > 0:18:05So another staircase needs to be put in at the far side there
0:18:05 > 0:18:07and this will be an open plan kitchen, living room,
0:18:07 > 0:18:09and we'll get a nice wide window
0:18:09 > 0:18:12and put it in the wall, which looks over the Tyne Valley.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14Amazing! It should be really nice.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16A lot of light will come in, won't it?
0:18:16 > 0:18:19You can see it in those windows. It'll stream through. Fantastic.
0:18:19 > 0:18:23When you got this, you must have been up against developers. Do you see yourselves as developers?
0:18:23 > 0:18:27People must be thinking, "We can turn this into loads of flats."
0:18:27 > 0:18:29There was some interest. There was interest.
0:18:29 > 0:18:36But I think part of the thing was the community side of... What was coming in.
0:18:36 > 0:18:40What we were going to develop it into, especially based on Elaine's dance school. OK.
0:18:40 > 0:18:43I think that did play a big part. And the coffee shop and all that side of it.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45At the minute in Newburn
0:18:45 > 0:18:50there's not really a centre for people to go to. Right.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53I think that was part of the council's thought process.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55OK. Let's see a bit more, shall we?
0:18:55 > 0:18:58I'd be interested to see where everyone's going to dance. Yes.
0:18:58 > 0:19:03'This being a town hall, I'm looking forward to hearing how the couple plan to get the community involved
0:19:03 > 0:19:05'with this great building once again.'
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Wow! This is a huge space.
0:19:07 > 0:19:09Brilliant. This is going to be a dance studio?
0:19:09 > 0:19:11This will be the main dance studio, yes.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13Isn't that fantastic?
0:19:13 > 0:19:16The idea that there aren't many people or many businesses
0:19:16 > 0:19:20that would have a use for a room exactly how this is,
0:19:20 > 0:19:22and you love the space. It'll suit you perfectly.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25Are these some plans we can have a look at? Yeah.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30So the residential stuff's at the back,
0:19:30 > 0:19:32and the business stuff the front.
0:19:32 > 0:19:33The main dance studio.
0:19:33 > 0:19:37We'll have a meeting room and a small shop for the dance school
0:19:37 > 0:19:40and a coffee shop at the front. And a waiting area here.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44Perfect. That is having the community right at the front of the building.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47How important is the community focus to this project for you two?
0:19:47 > 0:19:50Very big. Very important. Yeah, very big.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54I've always been very involved with the community, doing what I'm doing.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58Obviously we want to try and broaden that even more.
0:19:58 > 0:20:04Sort of mobile - mobility classes during the day. OK. For older people.
0:20:04 > 0:20:06This is going to be more of a community centre area
0:20:06 > 0:20:10where people can come and meet and have a chat and get a coffee. Yeah.
0:20:10 > 0:20:17I think hopefully it might generate more interest in the village.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20Yeah. Hopefully. It'll definitely bring more people into the village.
0:20:20 > 0:20:25With the number of people Elaine has at the dance school who'll come in to Newburn who wouldn't before,
0:20:25 > 0:20:28and I think some of the businesses will benefit further down.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30Local shops. In the village.
0:20:30 > 0:20:35It's great that Dave and Elaine are able to make a home out of these old council offices.
0:20:35 > 0:20:40But it's also really interesting just how well their plans fit this space.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42A design office, a dance studio,
0:20:42 > 0:20:44and even a coffee shop.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46And lovely to think that this old municipal building
0:20:46 > 0:20:50will once again be a focal point for the community.
0:20:52 > 0:20:54Back near Stamford, Lincolnshire,
0:20:54 > 0:20:57I'm with Josh and Samantha, who've bought two derelict cottages
0:20:57 > 0:21:01and want to knock them through to create one single unique home.
0:21:01 > 0:21:06They've big ideas, but a tight budget of just ?5,000. To help them,
0:21:06 > 0:21:10I'm introducing them to a couple who have completed a very similar renovation.
0:21:10 > 0:21:12Guys, this is the place I've brought you to see.
0:21:12 > 0:21:14What are your first impressions?
0:21:14 > 0:21:16It's lovely. Fantastic. Really, really nice.
0:21:16 > 0:21:20And it was two cottages, so a lot to talk about.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23I think they'll have some really good advice for you.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27And just bear in mind that because it was two cottages,
0:21:27 > 0:21:31there might be a few hints as to how you can open up a space in your two cottages.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34Ideal. OK. Let's go and see it.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36'In 1993,
0:21:36 > 0:21:39'Philippa and Phil Heath were looking for a permanent family home
0:21:39 > 0:21:43'when they bought this derelict cottage which was originally built
0:21:43 > 0:21:44'as two homes in the 1800s.'
0:21:44 > 0:21:49Taking on an empty property for us was not only a challenge,
0:21:49 > 0:21:54but something that we could make our own.
0:21:54 > 0:21:59We were ready to settle down, have a bit more space, stability.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01I loved the idea of living in an old building.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05Bringing on a new generation where generations have been before.
0:22:05 > 0:22:09'This ex gamekeeper's cottage had sat empty for about a year
0:22:09 > 0:22:14'and was completely uninhabitable when the couple paid ?120,000 for it.'
0:22:14 > 0:22:18It hadn't been lived in, so the plaster was falling off.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22Ceilings were dropping down. Moss was growing on the walls!
0:22:22 > 0:22:25It was really a positive, in a way,
0:22:25 > 0:22:27because if it had been perfect,
0:22:27 > 0:22:33then it wouldn't have needed any work and we wanted a place to have a go at, put our own stamp on it.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35In order to keep costs low,
0:22:35 > 0:22:38they were determined to do most of the renovation themselves.
0:22:38 > 0:22:45We did all the work with the exception of the electrician and the plastering work.
0:22:45 > 0:22:50But all the skivvying, cleaning... All the labouring work.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54All the dirty work, we did it ourselves. And we enjoyed it. Yeah.
0:22:54 > 0:22:56Clearly this was a real labour of love.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00The home we've built I feel is like a child.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03It's been something that we've put energy in together.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06We've watched it grow, watched it evolve,
0:23:06 > 0:23:09and there are times that you can sit back and think,
0:23:09 > 0:23:14"It's all been worth it. The effort we put in has paid back dividends."
0:23:16 > 0:23:19But the main reason I brought Josh and Samantha here
0:23:19 > 0:23:22is because Philippa and Phil managed to renovate this whole place
0:23:22 > 0:23:26for thousands of pounds, not tens of thousands.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32Hello! Hello! How are you? Would you like to come in? We'd love to.
0:23:32 > 0:23:33Thank you.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35Into the kitchen and follow us.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40So this is the main living area here, really.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44Lovely. We've knocked through to make one workable kitchen.
0:23:44 > 0:23:47What was it like here, when you first took it on?
0:23:47 > 0:23:49It had been unified into one, but you still had to knock through?
0:23:49 > 0:23:52We wanted open plan living so we knocked walls down,
0:23:52 > 0:23:56so we opened up - there was just one small pokey window on the end.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00So we opened it up onto patio doors so we got the lovely view.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02Another window, lots of light, lots of space.
0:24:02 > 0:24:07We found RSJs from other projects that friends were doing
0:24:07 > 0:24:09so we pinched bits off them.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13All the time we were on the scrounge for what other people had got.
0:24:13 > 0:24:15The beams are 500 years old.
0:24:15 > 0:24:20It's old oak. It was waste to him. He'd finished what he was doing.
0:24:20 > 0:24:23How long has it taken you to get it to this stage?
0:24:23 > 0:24:26Is it finished? It looks finished. It's revolving and continuous.
0:24:26 > 0:24:30It never ends! We were in within the six months, originally.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32But it's never finished!
0:24:32 > 0:24:35We've got the outline plan of how we think we're going to do it,
0:24:35 > 0:24:37and to see this is really good,
0:24:37 > 0:24:40because it's very similar to what we've got in mind. Yeah.
0:24:40 > 0:24:41Which is quite scary, actually!
0:24:41 > 0:24:46It's really good because it's kind of backing up our intentions, really,
0:24:46 > 0:24:48and we've had a lot of people tell us we need an architect
0:24:48 > 0:24:51and you'll never do it on that budget and one thing and another.
0:24:51 > 0:24:54So it's really nice to meet people that have done it.
0:24:54 > 0:24:57It is nice to listen to other people's advice,
0:24:57 > 0:25:00but ultimately, it's your decision and it's your house
0:25:00 > 0:25:01and you're going to live in it.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04Everybody has got different ideas.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07It's worth listening to them, then do what you want to do.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09Very interesting, guys. Great advice. Let's see some more.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11Yes, come this way. Fantastic.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17If you'd like to come through, this is our lounge.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20This was originally two rooms.
0:25:20 > 0:25:25We've knocked this... This was the middle wall. We've knocked this through.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29That used to be a little shoot room and this was a small sitting room.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33So we wanted a nice large room again in the sitting area.
0:25:33 > 0:25:37It's fantastic. What do you think? It's lovely. Really nice.
0:25:37 > 0:25:38It's light and airy, so yeah.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42I don't want to scare Josh here, but looking ahead from where he is at the moment,
0:25:42 > 0:25:44what's he got in store for himself?
0:25:44 > 0:25:46He's doing it all himself, a bit like you have.
0:25:46 > 0:25:47Just how tough is that?
0:25:47 > 0:25:50It's down to the individual.
0:25:50 > 0:25:54I found it fun. I found it challenging.
0:25:54 > 0:25:58I don't think we had any negative problems,
0:25:58 > 0:26:00anything that we thought, "Oh, it's too much, it's too big."
0:26:00 > 0:26:03We really enjoyed the challenge, and we rose to the challenge.
0:26:03 > 0:26:08Summarise for me your key tips for making a budget go as far as possible in terms of this.
0:26:08 > 0:26:11Time. Yeah, time.
0:26:11 > 0:26:15We spent... But also, we spent a lot of time on it, didn't we?
0:26:15 > 0:26:19So it becomes your social life, it becomes your working life,
0:26:19 > 0:26:22it becomes everything, but it's well worth putting that time in.
0:26:22 > 0:26:24It takes total dedication, is what's coming across here.
0:26:24 > 0:26:30Yes, you might do it on a shoestring budget, but you will sacrifice your social life, your time.
0:26:30 > 0:26:34And from everything you've heard, you think you've got this determination, this energy,
0:26:34 > 0:26:39all the sort of... I'm feeling a lot more confident now that I've seen it.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42Or seeing their end project of it, so yeah.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46It's very interesting and opened your eyes up to it. It's good.
0:26:46 > 0:26:51It's nice to hear people say that you can do it, and being quite positive.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55Yeah. And seeing the end result, really, of the property.
0:26:55 > 0:27:00I've certainly got a lot more vision now of what we can achieve. I don't know if you have. Yeah.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04A lot of hard work, isn't it, but I feel you're up for this challenge.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06This is going to be your baby together.
0:27:06 > 0:27:11I think it's going to be more of a life thing than actually a chore.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14So it's the way I want to go in my life
0:27:14 > 0:27:17and dedicate something to it.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19And have a challenge and an achievement.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22So I think it'll be fantastic
0:27:22 > 0:27:25and really looking forward to it. Good.
0:27:25 > 0:27:30It's a great little place. It's going to make a wonderful first home together in the countryside.
0:27:30 > 0:27:32So best of luck with it. Thanks.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35I think today's been very useful for Josh and Sam.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38When you look at their project and particularly their budget,
0:27:38 > 0:27:42it's easy to be sceptical on what they're trying to do, even raise an eyebrow.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45But actually this project shows just what you can do
0:27:45 > 0:27:47with a relatively small amount of money.
0:27:47 > 0:27:53The key, of course, is planning, total dedication and hard work.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56But they seem to have plenty of energy, so I'm sure before long
0:27:56 > 0:28:00they'll have those two cottages into a lovely family home.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:28:29 > 0:28:33Everything to look forward to, on BBC Four.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36Would you consider me a dangerous terrorist?
0:28:36 > 0:28:38You don't want to discuss politics with me.