community stations initiative susan miles project officer [email protected] community use of empty...
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Community Stations Initiative
Susan MilesProject Officer
Community use of empty railway premises
The Concept
Linking the railway to the community
Assisting and supporting market towns and rural communities
Enabling local people to offer a range of social benefits to their communities
Revitalising stations with additional non-railway related activities
Providing a safer environment for passengers and others
To bring life back to empty station premises by making them available to local communities for not for profit use at a peppercorn rent through the creation of an innovative tri-partite lease which extends beyond the station lease.
Premises
Network Rail owns the infrastructure of the national railway system - buildings, land and track.
In the main, regional Train Operating Companies (TOC’s) then lease the infrastructure on a franchise basis for varying periods of time to provide the required rail service and station facilities.
Network Rail and TOC’s have acknowledged that there is a need to find a use for those railway premises which remain empty and for which they have not been able to find a commercial tenant.
They must seek to maximise the commercial return on their property portfolio for the wider benefit of the railway, but there are some properties that are simply unattractive to commercial tenants.
Why Are The Station Premises Empty ?•Not required for rail service
provision? •Unused in recent memory?•Deterioration of the premises?•Previous lettings not succeeded?•Not viable for commercial use?
FootfallInsufficient ParkingRenovation Costs Fees ???
The empty premises have been identified as surplus by the TOC, the size and condition vary and they are, in the main, let as viewed. Any improvements to the premises will be carried out by the community tenant at their expense, to meet the needs of their use.
The key to leasing the empty station premises for community use is the Tri-partite lease which extends beyond the term of the station lease. Time was taken to adapt a lease that can be used on a national basis and meet the needs of the voluntary sector. It is essentially non-negotiable as it deals with the tri-partite lease structure and with the issues of railway safety and control which cannot be changed. The Tri-partite lease can be for a term of up to 25 years if required. This security of tenure could attract capital grants and funding from a range of funders.
Tri-partite Lease
It doesn’t happen over night !
Negotiating legal and property matters
Establishing a support team
Finding ‘in kind’ support
Inspection of premises
Marketing the premises
Arranging tenants viewing days
Tenant assessment & recommendations
Project planning & consents procedure
Preparation and dissemination of printing and information
Arranging launches and celebrations
Ongoing guidance and support
Chasing up!!
ACoRP can provide independent guidance and support
Edge Hill, Liverpool
Great Malvern
WHISTLE STOP STORES
Playgroup Supplies
A training base to support those with learning difficulties
TenantWorcester County
Council
Sleaford Station
Business units to let.A District Council Project - brokered by ACoRP
Sleaford Station
Worcester Foregate Street
ContactACoRP, The Association of Community Rail Partnerships, is a national federation of over 60 local community rail partnerships spread across the UK. It is a not-for-profit organisation which aims to provide impartial support, advice and guidance to anyone who is involved with rural and local rail services, including community groups, town and parish councils, rural transport partnerships and small businesses.
Rail and River Centre, Canal Side, Slaithwaite Civic Hall15a New Street, Slaithwaite, Huddersfield HD7 5AB
Community Stations Initiative Susan Miles MBEACoRP Project Officer Tel: 01952 811880Mob: 07866 295 377E-mail [email protected]
Community use of empty railway premises.