PIONEERING PLANNING AGREEMENT SWAPS AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR ARTISTS’ STUDIOS

A new innovative alternative to planning gain partnership which provides artists’ studios in place of affordable housing has been pioneered by the arts charity ACME in partnership with leading house-builders. Following the success of several London developments which include a quota of artists’ studio space, the charity is now looking to expand its portfolio into other parts of the UK with the support of London agent Hurford Salvi Carr.

Established in 1972, ACME is a London-based charity which supports the development of fine art practice by providing subsidised studio space to deserving up-and-coming artists. The studios are pupose-built and and provide modern accommodation which brings life and vitality to what are often vacant commercial areas located on the ground floor or at the back of substantial residential developments.

ACME has helped over 5,000 artists with this fundmental means of support and are recognised as the UK’s leading development agency for working and living accommodation for artists. It is currently estimated there are 8,000 independent artists working in the UK of which 4,000 are without a permanent studio and 2,500 are in sub-standard or temporary accommodation.

Over the years, ACME has supported artists who have gone on to win seven Turner Prize Awards.

With the help of specialist London estate agent, Hurford Salvi Carr, ACME is now hoping to introduce this concept for alternative planning gain partnership to regional developers across the UK. ACME has appointed Hurford Salvi Carr to expand its portfolio of artists accommodation and will be approaching all major house-builders, local authority planning officers and other interest groups throughout the UK to source suitable developments.

The blueprint for this planning model was established in 2006 when ACME designed and built 50 new artists’ studios in partnership with property developers Barratt at the Galleria in Peckham SE15.

The Galleria is the first example in the UK of “planning gain partnership” between a studio provider, a property developer and a local authority. Following this partnership ACME has applied the same project model to several other developments including Lesney Matchbox Works, Homerton Road, in Hackney in partnership with Telford Homes.

Andrew Weisman of Telford Homes comments, “We are delighted to be working in partnership with ACME and Places for People on The Lesney Matchbox Factory which is a truly exciting project for Telford Homes. The project involves the demolition and redevlopment of the site and is set to provide around 50 affordable artists’ studios as well as retail, commercial and residential space.”

Director of ACME, David Panton explained: “Through working with developers, we are able to support the development of fine art practice by providing deserving artists with studio space which is purpose built, modern comfortable, well equipped, safe secure and most importantly affordable.

“This model provides a win-win solution all round. Through working with Hurford Salvi Carr, we can provide developers with a commercially sound solution to achieving occupancy for B1 business space, whilst for local authorities we can help fulfil their requirements to create mixed use developments which succesfully combine housing and commercial space.”

Director of Hurford Salvi Carr, Stephen Hurford explained: “In our experience, we have found that the prescence of artists’ studios make properties more marketable to housing developers than many other alternative uses. We now hope to introduce ACME’s concept to other areas of the UK, working closely with local authorities and artists colonies to extol the benefits of artists’ studio space within both new and extablished communities. By having commercial space occupied from day one in any predominantly residential schemeis a bonus and the vitality and diversity of an artist colony will bring life to any development, particularly during the daytime while most residents will be out at work.”