Green Councillors call for district council to convert under-used office buildings in Witham for housing

1 May 2012

Green District Councillors have written to Braintree District Council suggesting that the authority considers buying under-used or empty office buildings in Witham (1) to convert for residential use.

This could be done either directly or working with partners such as housing associations.

There is ongoing controversy in Witham and nearby villages about development pressure on green spaces and the countryside.

The council is working through its new Local Development Framework (LDF) document - part of the new Local Plan. This needs to identify sites for thousands of homes to be built up to the year 2026 in the district.

District Cllr. James Abbott said

"There is all-party support on BDC for more affordable housing and we welcome the recent moves to start allocating more money towards that goal.

We are proposing that by trying to secure under-used or empty office space for affordable housing we can not only take pressure off greenspaces, we may be able to speed up the delivery of that housing as buildings would need conversion rather than starting from scratch.

It is unfortunate that so many office buildings in Witham are under-used or empty, reflecting the economic hard-times we are in. But that is also an opportunity to help local people get the housing they need and also to stimulate economic activity in the conversion work which will help to provide some jobs."

 

Witham West ward 2011 Green candidate Andrea Bunn added

"Converting buildings to residential use can be a more sustainable way of providing housing than new build. The main structure is already there.

We would also be keen to see buildings converted to high green standards to help residents keep down their heating bills and to generate their own green energy."

 

ENDS

Note:

(1) There many empty and under-used office buildings in Witham and several are currently being advertised for sale or to let. Conversion to residential would require planning permission but this could be achieved. BDC is currently carrying out a survey of commercial property before making a final decision on proposed Witham Allocations of housing land in the LDF. Affordable housing is an agreed and evidenced priority in the district and the council recently agreed to put money from the New Homes Bonus fund towards affordable housing of at least £750,000.

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