Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Eco groups say they're 'recycling' empty buildings to save the planet, but is it a ruse to avoid rent?
Citation preview
02/08/2009 10:38A rewarding occupation - Times Online
Page 1 of 3http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/article6734067.ece
Luxury WeekendGet away from it all
August 2, 2009
A rewarding occupationEco groups say they’re ‘recycling’ empty buildings to save the planet,but is it a ruse to avoid rent?
RECOMMEND?
Eco Village squat next to Kew Bridge on a piece of land which hasbeen unoccupied for about 20 years
Lucie Greene
It is a scorching sunny afternoon in a disused field on the cornerof Kew Bridge, in west London. Butterflies flit from plant to plantwhile the warm breeze caresses the trees. A young woman in apretty floral-print top and baggy trousers sits meditating; another,in vest and baggy combat trousers, digs through raised flowerand vegetable beds. Men work on wooden yurts, while well-dressed, well-meaning members of the local community pop in todonate seeds, topsoil and firewood. Throw wind chimes andfrothy lattes into the picture and it is not a million miles from ahome counties garden centre. Except that it is, in fact, a squat.
Welcome to a new wave of recycling — squatting with a purpose.Examples are springing up around the country, as squattersrescue vacant buildings and wasteland with a view to creatingecologically sustainable communities. Take the Spike, inPeckham, once owned by Transport for London. The buildingwas transformed by ecowarriors and artists from a crack den intoa community centre, with a wellbeing clinic and yoga classes.(They were evicted in February after seven years’ residence.)These squatters are sophisticated: a mix of dreadlockedstereotypes, young professionals and graduate activists. Sites areresearched via tip-offs and Google Earth. The residents knowtheir rights (in part thanks to organisations such asSquatter.org.uk, and the fanzine Squatters Handbook) and areskilled in self-promotion. They use Twitter, Facebook andGumtree to raise funds, recruit and advertise their cause.
The number of eco-squats, or ecovillages, in Britain is rising. InApril, squatters took over a disused farm near Guildford, Surrey,intending to create a sustainable community farm. Earlier in theyear, the same group, part of the Circle Community, took overRaven’s Ait, a small island on the Thames, near Surbiton. Theyhave since been evicted from both sites.
Since 80 squatters took over the Kew Bridge site in June thisyear — there are now 15 full-time residents — they have built acompost loo and entertainment spaces, and created raisedvegetable patches. Members live on home-grown produce orfood found on “skip runs” (visits to supermarkets at night, to
David Smith
LONDON VILLAGES
We take a peek atSouthfieldsOur series on London villagescontinues with Southfields
EXPLORE PROPERTY
BUYING & SELLING
NEW HOMES
OVERSEAS
INTERIORS
INVESTMENT
GARDENS
COOL IN YOUR CODE
SPECIALS
FIRST-TIME BUYER
RENTAL MARKET
TIMES RECOMMENDS
Second homes: creditcrunch casualty or money-spinner?How I built my own slidinghouseTop 10 incentives for housebuyers
COMMENT
If prices inAmerica stabilise, itmakes those toxicassets banks areholding on theirbooks easier toprice and, in time,trade out of
More...
Post a comment
Property Search
Find a property to buy or rent
Buy Rent
Business Wisdom:Discover the power of collectivethinking. Submit a solution and be inwith a chance to win a Media HubHome Entertainment System
Northern LightsBusiness SolutionsNeed to KnowBusiness Wisdom
Social EntrepreneursBusiness TravelGreat British SummerCorsica TravelMore reports
AD FEATURE
Talent at theTowerA celebration of music
FOCUS ZONE
Mortgages
Mortgage Protection
Gas & Electricity
ADVERTISEMENTS
Enter keywords (e.g. 3 bedrooms, Bristol)
COMPARE & BUY
Home InsuranceFind the best quote
NEWS COMMENT BUSINESS MONEY SPORT LIFE & STYLE TRAVEL DRIVING ARTS & ENTS ARCHIVE OUR PAPERS SUBSCRIPTIONS
EDUCATION FOOD & DRINK HEALTH PROPERTY COURT & SOCIAL WOMEN MEN DATING ALPHA MUMMY FASHION HOROSCOPES
Times OnlineWhere am I? Home Life & Style Property
MY PROFILE SHOP JOBS PROPERTY CLASSIFIEDS
Unless you're like a Germansupermodel, you are not eager tohear you've put on weight ArielLeve
From The Sunday Times
02/08/2009 10:39A rewarding occupation - Times Online
Page 2 of 3http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/article6734067.ece
RELATED LINKS
On the case of absenteelandlordsGovernment's green homespledge in peril
food found on “skip runs” (visits to supermarkets at night, tocollect food past its sell-by date that has been thrown out). Theycook with a rocket stove designed to use less fuel than ordinaryovens.
“We banned sound systems, drinkand drugs — they alienatepeople,” says Gareth Newnham,30, a graduate and tent residentat the Kew Bridge site. “We’retrying to create a showcase forsustainable living. Anyone cansquat. You just put a Section 6notice [Criminal Law Act 1977,
protecting the rights of property occupiers] on the door. We’retrying to get away from the usual image and work with thecommunity.” The eco-village is open to the public. The grouphosts regular Thursday meetings, open to all, and plans a seriesof summer workshops for local children.
Unsurprisingly, St George, the housebuilder that owns the site,takes a rather dim view of the mushrooming of tents on its land,but it has received little sympathy from local people, who weren’toverly enamoured about the developer’s proposed blocks of flats.“We’re not trying to stop them building,” Newnham says. “We justwant to use it while it’s vacant.”
Squatting is set to grow during the economic crisis, as morebusinesses go bust and more homes are repossessed. TheEmpty Homes Agency estimates that there are more than940,000 empty homes in the UK. As a housing crisis takes hold,pressure is mounting for local governments to seek better usesfor such properties. Are eco-squats the answer? “I think the KewBridge one is a great use of the land while it is vacant,” saysAndrew Dakers, Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate forBrentford and Isleworth, the constituency where the site islocated. “It’s an interactive demonstration of low-impact living.”
Parts of the Kew Bridge site have been disused for 20 years,while the front section has been left for six. St George boughtthe site in 2003 and has yet to build there. “The housing crisis isa real problem,” Dakers says. “In Hounslow alone there are10,000 people on the housing list, with only 700 propertiescoming up. There should certainly be a discussion. ”
Other eco-squats have been more controversial. At Raven’s Ait,where squatters were forcibly removed in May, local newspapersreported that the community used more than 30,000kW ofelectricity while in control of the island — the same power as 45average homes would use in the same time. The squatters denythis, blaming the former occupiers, who, they claim, leftappliances switched on when they left.
The group took over the island, formerly a centre for conferencesand weddings, in March, planting gardens and inviting localsacross for picnics and children’s workshops, with long-term plansto build an eco-conference facility. As at Kew Bridge, they haddrink and drugs bans on the site. The group is now campaigningto reclaim the island, arguing that it is common land, so notKingston borough council’s to lease or sell.
“You only have to look at the state of the island after they left. Itwas a shambles,” says Derek Osbourne, leader of the council.“They said they were drink-and drug-free, but we found bottlesand cans everywhere. They’ve put a lot of false historicalinformation about the island on their websites. In my view, theireco-conscious claims are a cover. That’s not to say they’re notinterested in the environment, but to say that this was theprimary purpose of them being there is simply not true. Theywant to live for free.”
Squatting is under the spotlight at the moment. Last January,squatters took over two £20m Mayfair properties, while the MPsAnn and Alan Keen last month launched legal action againstsquatters in their constituency home in Brentford.
Many of these squats have been engineered by the CircleCommunity, a group of self-styled “positive squatters” who saythey work with owners and landlords. “We offer security,” saysPeter Phoenix, a representative of the group. “We keep thebuildings clean.” Again, others are unconvinced. “Professionalsquatters scare landlords with the costs of eviction and securityto make them seem like a good option,” Osbourne says.
continues with Southfields
TEA CEREMONY
The essentials for high teaSlide Show
Beyond thebrochure: HexagonHouse: The nextdimensionA hexagonal eco-home builtof oak and straw is the shapeof things to come
Time and place:Jenny AgutterThe actress, 56, was ateenager when she used herwages from The RailwayChildren to buy a flat inHolland Park, London
Interiors: KellyHoppen: Chic tricksThe interior designer, whoseclients include Jude Law andAnthony Hopkins, offers tipsfor decorating in the downturn
Find a LawyerCut your legal costs
Property guidesEssential reading whetheryou're buying, selling,improving or moving
restaurant
tube station
area / city
post code
View special offers Advanced search
RESTAURANT BOOKING
Search by:
CARS JOBS
PROPERTY TRAVEL
CLASSIFIEDS
HOLIDAYS
5 Star Mauritius from£1198pp!6 nights Half Board atHeritage Le Telfair Resort,including flights &transfers from EliteVacations
Amazing Cruise DealsWith Virgin HolidaysCruisesLast Minute Cruise AndCruise & Stay Offers. MedFrom £499pp, CaribbeanFrom £699pp!
5 * Moscow break from£499 pp inc flights5 star quality at a 3 starprice.
POPULAR SEARCHES ON TIMES ONLINE
ashes | books | chess | crosswords |fantasy football | fashion | formula 1 |Michael Jackson | need to know |obituaries | recipes | redundancy calculator| savings | science | sudoku | swine flu |twitter | university guide | wine | travel deals
Shortcuts to help you find sections and articles
search
02/08/2009 10:39A rewarding occupation - Times Online
Page 3 of 3http://property.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/property/article6734067.ece
Where am I? Home Life & Style Property CONTACT US BACK TO TOP
NEWS COMMENT BUSINESS MONEY SPORT LIFE & STYLE TRAVEL DRIVING ARTS & ENTS ARCHIVE
Times Online
Login
HAVE YOUR SAY
PRINT EMAIL
He also casts doubt over whether these eco-squats can haveany genuine ecological impact: “These groups aren’t radical anymore. The environmental movement has moved from beingmarginal to mainstream. It’s great to encourage people to changetheir lifestyles, but it’s not about new-age travelling and it’s notabout squatting.”
Phoenix disagrees, defending the group’s tactics. “We see it asrecycling empty buildings. You do it with glass and plastic, sowhy shouldn’t we do it with property? Direct action is a long andhonorable tradition. They may disagree with our methods, butwhen they look back, they will see we were right. Its like Ghandiand civil rights.”
Hmm. With wind chimes...
Would you like to post a comment? Please register or log in
Terms and conditions
Ads by Google
Ask a Lawyer Online Now8 Lawyers, Experts Are Online!Ask a Question, Get anAnswer ASAP.Law.JustAnswer.com/Squatter
عقارات على ضفة النهر لندن,Luxury Apartments & Villasشققق و فلل فاخرة على ضفة الثاميزLondonTheGallerySW6.com/Thames+River+Flat
find an eco-friendly homeReviews of eco-friendly homes forsale in the UK and abroadwww.WhatGreenHome.com
ALSO IN PROPERTY
Where burglars fear to treadIs it worth it? Aberdeenshire, £250,000Time and place: Jenny Agutter
ALSO IN LIFE & STYLE
Inside the family courts: raw deal for mums?Doctors’ new 48-hour week will put NHS in crisis, doctors warnPeople: Mark Oaten, Nick Clegg, David Mitchell, John Prescott,Frank Skinner
Canada for Less.. flyfrom £129 one way inctaxes8 fabulous Canadian cities...you won’t find cheaper
Search for moreholidays
Place your advert now
Search Ad Reference:
Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times, or place your advertisement. Times Online Services: Dating | Jobs | Property Search | Used Cars | Holidays | Births, Marriages, Deaths | Subscriptions | E-paperNews International associated websites: Globrix Property Search | Property Finder | Milkround Copyright 2009 Times Newspapers Ltd.This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and Conditions. Please read our Privacy Policy.To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from Times Online, The Times orThe Sunday Times, click here.This website is published by a member of the News International Group. News International Limited, 1 Virginia St, London E98 1XY, is the holding company for theNews International group and is registered in England No 81701. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.
Submit
