Graig Park and Westfield: Empty Properties

The Malpas Three campaigned on behalf of the the Graig Park and Westfield residents to force the "absent landlord"owners of vacant properties in Malpas to sell the properties, or else renovate the houses themselves. We involved local resients who wrote to their building societies and the owners Freshwater Estates. We also enlisted the help of Paul Flynn MP and Rosemary Butler AM who put pressure on the company from their powerful positions. Finally Freshwater Estates bowed to the combined pressure and sold the properties to a local builder. The following Newsletter was delivered in the area in October 2002.

Latest Information on vacant properties
The vacant properties that have long been a concern to to local residents have been sold to a builder. The completion of the legal process is imminent after which work will commence on renovation. The sale has taken quite a time as the company did not have access to or had lost some of the title deeds.

Therefore, it was necessary to go through a process of statutory declaration of proof of ownership.
The process for the next twelve months is as follows. A mortgage arrangement has been set up for the builder, who will renovate a couple of properties at a time and then offer them up for sale.
It is envisaged that the average property will take 6 - 8 weeks to renovate. However, some of the properties require underpinning or wall tie replacement that will extend the duration of the works. It is hoped that the works will be completed within twelve months. The builder will decide the order in which the properties will be completed.

Anyone interested in purchasing a property should contact:
Mr Jenner, The Freshwater Group of Companies, Freshwater House,
158 - 162 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2 8HR.