A ‘common sense’ approach works for all

3/24/2010

Local social housing landlord, Magna West Somerset (MWS), has come up with a great idea for many of their under used garages.

Local social housing landlord, Magna West Somerset (MWS), has come up with a great idea for many of their under used garages.  Following on from a recent review it has been agreed that a more flexible use where there is less demand would make good sense.  MWS receive many requests for use for storage.  However, up until now, the only legitimate use of a garage was to be occupied by vehicles.

On sites where parking is at a premium and garages are in high demand, garages will continue to be used for cars only.  Now the reverse of this can apply in areas where there is a lower demand. 

MWS will apply this ‘common sense’ approach towards requests for garages to be used for storage to all sites where there is a low demand for garages. 

Christine Boland, tenant services manager, said, “The use of garages was raised at our   recent tenants’ conference and stakeholders’ conference, so residents, not just Magna tenants, should see the benefits  of this.  Anyone can apply for a garage, not just Magna tenants”.  She added, “This more flexible approach to the use of garages for storage will also have the added benefit of helping to reduce the cost of having empty garages where there is low demand for the storage of cars”.

To assess the demand for garages and parking a questionnaire was sent to 600 households in Watchet, Williton and Washford (MWS tenants and private households).

Future planning will include limited but essential investment on the garage sites that are most in demand.  MWS will advertise garages for storage in areas of lower demand. Future development and/or disposal of the remaining garage units will be considered in more detail during 2010/11