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Garages to workspace
In our neighbourhood there are numerous small garage sites that are inappropriate for residential infill development given the multiple ownerships, existing access rights and overlooking (some of which are quite large communal spaces that are well used for play and social space by local residents). Many of these garages are already used as studio or workshop spaces for local tradespeople, musicians and artists, with unofficial power supplies linked to homes nearby, but generally no drainage/water supply and minimal insulation. Could the local authority support garage owners/freehold owners to work together to develop more formalised studio/workspace/workshop yards, perhaps by adding another storey, and help fund improvements to the communal spaces? This supports the idea of 15 minute neighbourhoods, with homes and workspace nearby, and would create local supportive collaborative networks of businesses, similar to those found at Pullens Yards or Blackhorse Lane. And would have the added benefit of improving (and potentially greening) pockets of infill sites throughout existing neighbourhoods.
Suggested by carotg
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Community Member 3 years agoThis is an interesting idea, however just some thoughts. Are there any particular sites that you would recommend for this work? The only one's that I can think of are privately owned and while it is great there would be community usage, we...
Show full commentThis is an interesting idea, however just some thoughts. Are there any particular sites that you would recommend for this work? The only one's that I can think of are privately owned and while it is great there would be community usage, we would be spending public money to potentially upgrade a private citizens existing garage. Especially if we were to add additional floors and utilities, we would be basically be providing free capital works with no capital receipts when that garage would eventually be sold on.
Given that the current central government trend is for less regulation on planning, another alternative would be for the current garage owners to put forward plans for upgrades including utility improvements and community use working with the local authority and then requesting a loan from the market with City Hall as a guarantor.
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