New life for empty shops & environment improvements

By Aidan McGuinness

Jim Fraser

The Feel Good Factor

Main outcome. People need to feel safe and enjoy their

surroundings

Secondary outcomes Improve partnership working and communications

with tenants. Better services Happy customers – Keep coming back Shop Rental : A financial return for the Association

Focus on:

Finding Alternative Uses for Redundant Shops

Environmental improvement work

Changes To Shops

Purchased & improving 4 shops which are provisional let.

2 ELD properties have been improved and are re-let.

8 empty shops converted in flats – HAG funded 4 shops brought back into economic use by their

owners since 2008. Currently negotiating the purchase of 2 shops. 1 ELD property earmarked to be re-let in one years

time. 1 shop frontage converted into a community gallery

space.

Financial Case for Buying Shops Acquisition based on Open Market Valuation + stick

of factoring fees Leased to those in “Creative Industries” £20K Wider Role funding: “Studio” Shop Front £30K Vibrant Fund 4 shops currently under

construction Association funding for the 4 shops in the vibrant bid

is £99K with a rental income giving a breakeven point of 8 years time.

Lessons learnt.

Craigton Rd / Nimmo Drive – Under Construction Dec 2010

Proposed Craigton Road

Before Empty Shops @ Elderpark St and Langlands Rd

New Flats @ Elderpark St and Langlands Rd

The Multiplier Effect

Old Workshop Now The Studio

Improvement To Others Shops in the Vicinity of the Studio 182 Crossloan Then 182 Crossloan Rd

Now

Improving The EnvironmentCase Studies

How do we do this? We ask the people who live there Survey tenants Personal visits Agree what needs to be done Agree a design Get residents involved

Garmouth Gds / Langlands Path

Issues

1. Gang fighting / hiding weapons 2. Poor lighting 3. Overgrown / littered 4. Blocked access to properties

Garmouth Gds / Langlands Path

Solution Vibrant Scotland Funding remove shrubs raise trees create new features keep it simple / easy maintenance

Langlands Path Before After

Neglected Common AreaElderpark StIssues

Overgrown Dumping ground Not Maintained Bad impression

Neglected Common AreaElderpark StSolution

Negotiated partial funding from Crudens Remove overgrown shrubs Additional Fencing Make existing tree a feature Restock Agree maintenance

Before After

Outcomes

Views were listened to Action’s taken Environment was improved Likely to maintain improvements Involved at each stage Builds trust

Experience Says:

Take a Risk Work in Partnership Take your Opportunities Argue your case Don’t rush in