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Community Stations Initiative

Concept
The concept of the Community Stations Initiative, is to turn empty and redundant station buildings into valued resources for local communities. This has been achieved by offering long term leases on selected unoccupied station premises with no commercial future, to non-profit organisations and local groups at peppercorn rents thus:-

  • To let imageLinking the railway into the community
  • Assisting and supporting rural communities and market towns
  • Revitalising stations with additional non-railway related activities
  • Enabling community groups to offer a wide range of social benefits to their communities.
  • Adding value to the rail services and station facilities
  • Providing a feeling of safety and well-being to passengers

Piloted and developed in the East and West Midlands Region by Central Trains as the Central Stations Initiative it has been proven that –

  • the concept is a good idea  
  • it is wanted  
  • it works 
  
 

Overview
Network Rail own the infrastructure of the national railway system, buildings, land and track.  In the main the use of these facilities are leased to regional Train Operating Companies (TOC’s) who lease a range of stations on a franchise basis for varying periods of time to provide the requisite rail service and station facilities.

Network Rail and Central Trains recognised some time ago that there was a need to find a use for those railway properties which were not generally attractive on a commercial basis.  They must seek to maximise the commercial return on their property portfolio for the wider benefit of the railway, but they both had some properties on their books that are simply unattractive to commercial tenants.

Although Central Trains’ franchise in the west and east midlands, ended in November 2007, thanks to their foresight the Community Stations Initiative is now working in other regions.

The Premises and Improvements
The premises have been identified as surplus by the TOC, the size and condition vary and are, in the main, let as viewed. Any improvements to the premises will be carried out by the community tenant at their expense, in lieu of rent for the duration of the lease which can be up to 25 years. 

Before image Before

Tenants have attracted support and funding from other sources including local development agencies and strategic funding, local authorities, local charity funding, the National Lottery and the Arts Council.  Where station buildings are listed or within a conservation area, several have been supported with a grant from the Railway Heritage Trust.

After image After

The initiative has also attracted a considerable amount of  “in-kind” support.


 

Innovative Tri Partite Lease
The key to the community use of empty railway premises through the Community Stations Initiative is a new Tri-partite lease which extends beyond the term of the station lease.

Made between Network Rail, the TOC and the prospective tenant, the lease has been tailored, through the Community Stations Initiative to meet the needs of the voluntary sector and 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.

Detailed explanatory notes have been prepared on behalf of ACoRP to support this complex document

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

Tenants cannot sublet the property, however consideration is given to those who wish to offer a shared use of the premises to another organisation to provide additional services and extend the opening hours of the premises.
 
Wagge logo
 ACoRP acknowledges with thanks, the pro-bono help and suport received from Wragge and Co, Solicitors
 

ACoRP Advice and Support
ACoRP provides help and support to TOC’s who have empty, underutilised, station premises available; communities that want to see their stations regenerated; and to show funders what enormous benefit their funding and support could make.

Help and support available -

  • 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 information
  • Arranging launches and celebrations
  • Ongoing guidance and support
  • Chasing up!

 

Contact
Susan Miles MBE
Community Stations Initiative

Tel: 01952 811880
Mob: 07866 295 377
e-mail  susan@acorp.uk.com