I’m exploring how garage sites are managed and repurposed across the sector, particularly where social value and community impact are considered.

1. Garage Ownership and Occupancy
• Total number of garages owned or managed by the council: 485 managed by housing, Commercial property has 13 garages on a single industrial estate which we let to tenants on the industrial estate only as overflow storage we charge £900 per annum and 2 are currently vacant. They are let as part of the tenants lease and the rent is charged quarterly in advance and includes insurance & a % of service charge. We have no plans to redevelop, no complaints, no works planned and they are managed as part of the industrial estate.
• Number currently let, vacant, or awaiting redevelopment: 297 let, 188 vacant, no current redevelopment works by housing, 11 garages let and 2 vacant from the commercial portfolio.
• If known, approximate breakdown of garage users (e.g. council tenants, residents, businesses): 102 = tenants, 195 = non tenants

2. Financial Information (if available)
• Average monthly rent charged for garages: £58.11
• Approximate annual income from garage lettings: £206,000
• Any recent investment or financial summaries linked to garage sites

3. Maintenance Budget and Condition
• Any allocated annual budget or planned spend for garage site maintenance or refurbishment: £50k this year. That is reviewed on a yearly basis depending on other budgetary demands
• Where available, any condition assessments or summaries used to inform maintenance decisions: This is only done via a referral from housing or Councillors or where the voids team report the block is in poor condition with minimal lets and requires either refurbishment or demolition.
• Any criteria used to determine whether garages are repaired, decommissioned, or redeveloped: This is done mainly on the cost of the works and is agreed with the Asset Manager. Generally where the costs are too high to justify refurbishment and where there is a low demand for rentals, the site is demolished and turned into marked parking bays.

4. Management Approach
• Whether garage sites are currently managed in-house or via an external contractor/partner
• If applicable, any upcoming reviews or strategy updates relating to garage site management, and when these are expected: Not aware of any

5. Complaints and ASB
• Any complaints or concerns raised in the past three years relating to garage sites (e.g. condition, security, anti-social behaviour)
2023 – 3
2024 – 2
2025 – 3

6. Strategic Approach and Community Impact
• Any policies or internal guidance that reference garage site management or redevelopment: No, not aware of any
• Any recent or planned redevelopments: Currently looking at the demolition of the last phase of garages in Patten Ash Drive. Once demolished the area will be marked out as parking bays.
• Where available, any documents outlining community engagement or social value considerations: We inform councillors via email of our proposals at the time. With projects such as the Courts Garages (large scale demolition and creation of parking spaces), we did drop in sessions with Residents of the area, door knocks and opportunities to choose whether they wanted parking spaces, replacement of garages etc.