[Lilly]

Hi all
It is far better news when an area already vacant for a number of years is transformed into something useful like the Surrey County Council wants to do with an old fire station in Dorking.
I am sure there are many vacant buildings which needs to be revamped into affordable housing instead of creating new ones on places where there are now lovely green patches of fields.
Do you know of vacant areas where you live?

Cheers
Lilly

[Josie]

Wow really? That is great news and much better than them ruining the landscape! Everyone's a winner in a situation like this aren't they?

What are they going to do turn it into flats then?

There are derelict buildings all over the UK and this is a good way to ensure that the buildings are used for something useful!

I mean it can't be bad can it as it will create jobs in the area as well?

[alfie]

Do you think these new houses or flats will have stairs, or just a pole in the middle of the floor that you slide down?

[Lilly]

I will be really disappointed if they don’t leave in the pole…but I should think that it needs stairs as well to make sure to going up isn’t too much of a pain. I can’t even carry heavy bags let alone drag my body up a pole tee-hee…your funny Alfie.

Apparently according to This Is Surrey Today this building has been a busy landmark but nothing was permanent…first the fire station and then a county court, magistrate’s court, theatre, cinema and library…

I think its best they do something that will stick now like the housing. I would love to see pictures of this building if it were able to pull off all of these titles it must be something.

So Josie to answer your question they are going to turn it into cheap housing/flats on top and a shop below. Especially for this reason it is a win-win situation.

I’m happy for the community who will now get some cheaper options to live in and the jobs and business that will lead from the entire project as well.

[Josie]

Haha alfie I think the pole would be better haha! But I am sure there will be some health and safety issue (boring people) hehe!

I wouldn't be able to get up the pole but coming down could be fun hehe! Imagine a bridget jones type incident lol!

Its good that they are creating flats and shop units - as long as they are both affordable you are right this could end up being a win win situation- not something we sere much these days!

[will56]

afasdascascascas

[Karen]

I think its great to see councilors and developers thinking a bit more about historical buildings and preserving landmarks as opposed to just knocking things down and building new. We have an old school near us (I think it was once a junior school). Very nice building that has been sympathetically converted to flats. They probably could have knocked it down and doubled the footprint but have kept it as is. Every time I drive past it I think how lovely it looks.