Latest news with #GYBC
Yahoo
7 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Council plans new licensing scheme for rented homes
A new licensing scheme covering 5,000 rented properties will improve housing conditions, councillors in a Norfolk town are being advised. Great Yarmouth Borough Council said a selective licensing scheme, if agreed at a meeting on 3 June, would cover the Nelson, Cobholm and Southtown, and Central and Northgate wards. It would replace a previous scheme that covered 1,500 properties, which private-sector landlords criticised as being costly and of little effect. Councillor Paul Wells, portfolio holder for licensing, said: '''We know some privately rented properties are in a poor condition and we are determined to try to improve standards.'' The council said it carried out a feasibility study which included data about demographics and the condition of rental accommodation in the borough. Officers said the initial scheme led to considerable improvements and helped the landlords understand their responsibilities and "what good property management looks like". If introduced, the scheme - which would include 60% of the borough's private-rented housing - would not be allowed to make a profit. Running costs would be covered by a proposed licence fee of £784 for landlords. Paul Cunningham, chairman of the Eastern Landlords Association said: "I have brought this to the attention of the MP to say this is a pointless exercise. "It is another way of Great Yarmouth Borough Council alienating landlords. Of all the local authorities I work with GYBC is the most difficult to deal with. They are anti-landlord and are the only council in Norfolk to look at selective licensing. "The cost will be passed on to tenants and therefore the rents will be increase and more and more landlords will sell. "There is already a lack of landlords across the area and country, and this will make housing asylum seekers look more attractive." Mr Wells added: ''Generally, we have responsible landlords, but not everyone has a home that is safe, warm and good quality. This scheme would mean landlords must comply with a number of licence conditions. "Bad housing has a detrimental impact on the lives of people and our residents deserve better where there are problems." He added: ''We already have some powers related to housing, but this scheme will allow us to more effectively deal with a range of issues that impact people. "We will be better able to tackle health hazards and overcrowding – which is a real problem for some of our residents. ''We would be able to systematically inspect properties to make sure things like gas and electric certification are up to date, rather than simply reacting to complaints as we currently do. ''Where necessary, we could refuse to issue a licence and hold people accountable.'' Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. 'I can't live in a home like this' New licensing scheme for private landlords City seeks views on HMO improvement scheme
BBC News
16-03-2025
- BBC News
Artworks previewed before Great Yarmouth sculpture trail begins
Sculptures that will create an art trail in a seaside town have been shown in a preview ahead of their Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) has invested £330,000 in the project through the government's Town Deal funding.A dozen works, created by local, national and international artists, will be installed across the Norfolk town over the next few weeks, with the whole trail set to be unveiled in June."It's part of a wider scheme around tourism and attracting visitors into the town," said project manager Tracey Reed. "We want to be a 365-day tourism economy, and this fits with the work we're doing at the Winter Gardens to help us achieve that."The Winter Gardens, on the town's seafront, are due to be restored as part of an £18m project. Of the sculptures, Natasha Hayes, the council's executive director of place, said: "It's so hard to choose your favourite because they're all iconic in their own right."We've got Vorte Breath, which is picking up on the wind and offshore side of things that happen off our coastline; we've got the seahorses, which are just resplendent and celebrate our natural resources."The sculpture that's arrived [on a lorry] is a heart on a pillar that's got some glass-coloured inserts that will reflect the sun."It's going at the bottom of Regent Road and the idea is it celebrates our tourism."The Juggler celebrates circus, so I can't choose a favourite because I love them all and I can't wait to see them installed." Daniel Candon, Conservative cabinet member for economic development and growth, said: "One of the key aims of this is to improve the visitor experience and this is a trail that will be available all year round."And [it will] amplify the pride of place for local communities. We have an incredible offer of heritage and culture in Great Yarmouth and it is about being loud and proud about it."He acknowledged some public art, such as graffiti murals, had been defaced by vandals, but said he hoped the community would play its part in protecting the sculptures. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
11-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
The Conge plans for 82 new homes to regenerate Great Yarmouth
A council and two housing associations have submitted plans for 82 new homes as part of a regeneration Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) acquired leases from businesses on the south side of The Conge from 2020 and began demolition in 2024. Using money from the Government's Future High Streets Fund and Brownfield Land Release Funding, the authority has worked with Broadland Housing Association and Orwell Housing on plans for the the proposals, 82 homes, including flats and houses, built on the land, either side of George Smith, the Conservative leader of GYBC, said: ''We are incredibly excited by what the regeneration of The Conge will mean for local people." The council said the partnership would improve a key gateway between the railway station and Market Place, the latter having had £11m invested in a new market building, new paving, lighting and plans involving premises on the north side of The Conge could see further businesses relocated, to allow additional homes to be built in the added: ''This key location has been neglected for some time and this redevelopment is part of our broader regeneration strategy for the borough.''Broadland and Orwell are award-winning housing associations and have a proven track record of delivering and managing high-quality homes and places. "They bring a wealth of expertise and resources to progress the development of this key area of the town centre.''The planning application comes after a public consultation last year on the plans for The Conge, which included an opportunity for people to see the proposals at Great Yarmouth Town Labour group leader Trevor Wainwright said: ''We know there is increasing demand for new homes in the borough and, by working in partnership with two experienced organisations, this forms an important part of our regeneration strategy.'' In a joint statement, Andrew Savage, Broadland's executive director development, and Greg Dodds, Orwell's assistant director of development and growth, said: ''Orwell and Broadland are both locally based and have a long track record of providing quality homes for rent and sale across Norfolk and Suffolk."Orwell and Broadland are delighted to bring forward this iconic site in the centre of Great Yarmouth as the first project under the partnership."The application at The Conge will help to transform a brownfield site into high-quality, well-designed and attractive housing. These much-needed homes in the town centre will be energy efficient to heat for people, and sustainable for future generations who will live there.'' Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
28-01-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Pub owner appeals council order to repair building hit by fire
A trial date has been set to resolve a legal battle concerning the burned-out shell of a disused fire at the Haven Bridge pub in Great Yarmouth's Southtown in March 2022 left the building at risk of June, Great Yarmouth Borough Council (GYBC) served a "notice requiring works" against the Nottingham-based owner, Andrew Slater but he has appealed that notice at Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court, claiming his tenant is responsible for were told of separate civil proceedings between contractor KB Scaffolding of Great Yarmouth and GYBC. Mr Slater and GYBC are due before Great Yarmouth Magistrates on 18 September. KB Scaffolding Services said it was asked to erect scaffolding around the building to secure it, but the council, the owner of the building and the tenant all deny giving the Slater, his tenant Martin Bennington and the council all deny responsibility to settle the scaffolding cost, reportedly in excess of £400, council has previously said it has no contract with KB Slater has said Mr Bennington was responsible for all repairs to the building under the terms of the Lowens, on behalf of GYBC, said: "It may help [the court] if I say that under Section 79 of the Building Act 1974, it is only possible to serve [notice to] the owner of the premises."That is the council's reading of that section. The situation regarding KB Scaffolding, will be a separate dispute, and will be irrelevant to the appeal." Mr Slater told the BBC outside court the scaffolding was erected to allow a fire investigation to be conducted safely, but that if he had been notified he would have approved the immediate demolition of the court he said: "The scaffolding is all interlinked, so until the scaffolding is sorted out, nothing can be done with the building."We've still got to sort the scaffolding out."Both parties accepted that works to demolish the building were being held up by the BBC has attempted to contact KB Scaffolding Services without response. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
