Community Stations Initiative Susan Miles Project 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? Footfall Insufficient Parking Renovation 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 Tenant Worcester County Council

Sleaford Station Business units to let. A District Council Project - brokered by ACoRP Sleaford Station

Worcester Foregate Street

Contact ACoRP, 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 Hall 15a New Street, Slaithwaite, Huddersfield HD7 5AB Community Stations Initiative Susan Miles MBE ACoRP Project Officer Tel: Mob: Community use of empty railway premises.