I BOUGHT A COMMUNITY CENTRE 

Are you planning a Highpeak Prison where you will put everyone who tries to haggle £200 on a £1k car for stonechips?

Looks like a good buy, but there’s something undeniably sad about a community centre being sold 😢

£12k for the works seem a little light but I'm rooting for you to do it! One of the easiest ways to improve EPC rating is LED lighting.

Got to get the badge in ey Matt 🤣

My first concerns with that building would be up on the roof. From the limited views of it it looks like a pitched roof surrounded by an upstanding parapet, so there will be all sorts of lead work in the form of lined gutters, upstand flashings and rainwater outlets, all will need checking and maintaining. If there are other flat roof areas they will likely need attention as well unless the previous owner has invested in these areas in the last few years. No use doing anything internally with a bad roof! Also, watch out for asbestos in old vinyl floor tiles; can be a real pain to get rid of. Last thought is that all radiators and associated pipework could need low surface temperature panels adding if the building is going to be used for childcare.

Definitely keep it community driven / commercial. So many small towns and villages lose these types of uses to housing development and its a real shame. Provide a service for the members of the community you’re investing in :) good luck

at last someone who dosent want to knock it down to turn into flats love the idea of a keeping it as some kind of day care legend

I would love this space front half converted into an art studio/gallery/teaching centre the back end converted into a private living area. Seeing the modern buildings around the site, I would look at solar on the roof, and that rear area, perfect for an accessible garden. I am disabled and buildings like this with big doors, and corridors are brilliant as you can move your chair around more easily. It does need PIR security lighting around the exterior. Also with the church close by you need to double check that you don't have to pay any Parish fees to it, solicitors often miss that and you do have to pay sadly.

Nice purchase. Would make a great counselling centre for Nissan Qashqai drivers.

This is calling out to stay as a hub for the community - cafe by morning and afternoon, micropub/brewery by late afternoon/evening. Host events and live music, give jobs to the locals, what a perfect little spot. Good luck with whatever you've chosen to do with it.

Hope you're as honest about the likely cost escalation / lack of likely profit from this when the time comes. £12k isn't enough for what's needed here. Everyone thinks they're a property developer until it gets real. good luck.

Very interesting purchase! Lovely commercial unit (commercial SDLT). Don’t forget to claim for capital allowances 😉 though likely wouldn’t be life changing on this project. I’d be tempted to Reno and use as a commercial let, full repair and insure lease for the immediate future and if and when you feel inclined, go for a commercial to residential conversion under permitted development rights. Really enjoying this channel Matt, top job.

If you are considering setting it up as a nursery you would have to provide kiddie sized toilets baby changing and washing facilities. All door handles would have to be placed high up so children couldn't get out. The outside space has to be safe and totally enclosed for children to play. Also cooking and dining area to feed the children.

This place definitely needs a rewire, those Distribution boards are at least 40 years old and the design was changed in the 1980s to a more "European" design (i.e. similar in design to what is used in places like France and Germany); luckily for you, all the wires are kept within exposed pipes and channelling so rewiring shouldn't be too difficult or expensive. Also, "Council owned" does not always mean "up to scratch" or "modern standards"...

The EPC will be a concern for residential use. I bought my first house without going inside in 1974 when I was 22. It cost £8500. (Todays value approx £ 425,000). The estate agent arranged a 100% mortgage with Norwich City Council for 30 years at a fixed 11%. I shared it with 3 UEA students who paid £ 75 p.m. The mtge. was £ 68 p.m. I think! I sold it 3 years later for £22,500, an appreciation that has never been repeated since. Good luck with this Project and the 2 bed flat but your budgets appear too low.

Love the new oppertunity mindset! And amazing you can still buy such a quality building for reasonable money. First thing that comes to mind is High Peak Studios. Imagine the new wave of 'Madchester' bands born and raised in your new studio. Parking at the rear for bikes and an E-bike charge point. And maybe use architectural salvage, i.e. tiles for the refurb. You know, classy atmosphere. Just a thought. I am here most days of the week 😊Thank you for the video, a cool visit at a fun and very interesting High Peak Property building.

My son in law hails from Manchester. We have a Pompey accent (Portsmouth) at first it was a challenge but now, we both understand each other. 👍😃

If you haven’t already, I’d get the heating system descaled, it’s old that system, probably 1960s, it’s a one pipe with cast iron rads. These systems were quite common back in the day. If you had the money (and the will) you could get the radiators removed and taken to get sand blasted then, sealed with a clear epoxy resin, they look great. Whatever you do not chuck them, they are worth about £100 to £150 each as people love them, you see them in pubs and the like now. The system should run fine but will be slow to heat up. Looking forward to seeing how your Dad and his team finish this one.

This is like an arty version of homes under the hammer, great watch.

Try and paint strip the wall tiles in the hallway before you remove them. Might be an interesting original feature that could be retained. Likewise underneath the laminate timber could be the original hardwood flooring which would typical of the period and building type. Just to say I'm the in house architect and pm for a heritage led property developer. Love to see this type of work getting done.

I would get in touch with local estate agents to see what sort of properties were in demand Good buy

Three words come to mind - bravery and money pit. Hope I'm wrong on the last two. I'll be keeping an eye on this one. Good luck with it.

Interesting Property & Great purchase 👍 looking out for an update on this one 👀

Great project. My first thought was an 'establishment for the discerning gentleman' lol. However, you could get several small businesses in there rather like a business incubator...tech startups possibly from local universities etc.

i'm a tiler/painter in Manchester area. £12k will be nowhere near enough unless you get proper cowboy builders

These are gonna be really interesting videos. Turn around time is obviously much longer than a car and the journey much more involved compared to a service and a wash. Looking forward to seeing these progress

Your videos are so inspiring, I'm a musician and know very little about cars or property, but this would make an excellent recording/rehearsal/music workshop facility. Whatever you do with it, i'm sure it will be great. Good luck with it all and i'll look forward to the updates!

So slow down, its a commercial property. Fix the structural elements etc. Clean and tidy the inside, clear around the outside. Insulate those pipes in the store. Thereafter approach a few child care businesses in the area. They will have specialist requirements properties eg The rear yard area would be ideal for an outside play area - if I recall from my commercial agency days they need to be able to provide this in order to get approval to use it as a day care. Thereafter you can incentives the lease in order to facilitate any works they need to do, so say you propose a 5 Yr lease with a 3 Yr break clause and 3 months rent free at the start. The rent free period is to allow them to do their works and recoup some of their costs. Basic rule - dont start ripping the place apart and adding things until either the tenant asks for them (Add a bit to the rent to cover this) or let the tenant do the work (give them a rent free period). I often see landlords fit out commercial properties only to see the tenants take it back out again (capets etc) because it doent work for them or their fit out.

Just saw this video. That's a great buy! You could strip building to a 4 wall bare brick and mortar, add one floor on the top and convert into 10 or more HMOs

Please Matt, it's Leigh, not Wigan! This is a very sensitive subject, and you need to get it right. 😉 But, my primary school and college (long gone now) were at the other end of this road and love this area. This building in particular has always been a bit of an oddity though, in the past it's been various things from a print shop to community centre. Glad someone is now giving it a new lease of life.

What a great building & what a find that your friend found, A community centre is often the heart of the community I’ll be really interested to see what you do with it xXx

Oh Matt, with your River Island jumper! Weekend Offender 😂

Another great video nice to see someone else shares my passion. Quick tip- if you have any metal you want to get rid of, take it to a scrap yard then you will get some money back for scrapping it👍

Before touching this building I would have a structural engineer look at that roof. I was part of the lottery funded community group that used this building for many years and wanted to purchase it..after having a structural engineer undertake an inspection the report came back as roof unsafe and need a considerable amount of money to put it right...the council have know this and in doing so as sold it as seen...the front facia just doesn't need pointing this is due to the weight of the roof pushing the wall out.I'd also check the wall from the front door side and the rear wall were the large cracks contine due to the roof issue....I think the quote we got was above 30k to put this right to which the council refused and so the building was deemed unsafe , think you can still see some hazard tape on the front window...Good luck with this as it is truly a lovely local building but one I feel has had its day !

"It was actually owned by the council so I am pretty sure that everything will be up to date" Oh how I wish that I shared your enthusiasm and trust, any dealings that I have had with our local council means corners cut, with best value installations & repairs carried out...🤔 By the way, you missed the Celia Musgrove original painting "Harbour scene with boats" in one of the offices, these are selling for premium money these days, I would estimate you could get at least half your outlay from that...😀 All joking aside, I hope that the project goes to plan and that you turn the property into a thriving business hub for someone. Good to see the empire expanding...😀

Could be ideal for a solicitors practice or a veterinarian surgery or even a doctor's practice, think you will do well on this

Looking forward to seeing the finished work 👍👍

I look forward to High Peak Day Care in which Matt sends a group of toddlers to sleep by talking about the differences between the L322 and L405 Range Rovers

school thing a good idea. depending on whats around the town id probably turn it in to a games/arcade type place or least part of it. add some pool tablets and machines etc. something for the local kids. maybe add a bar etc for the adults.

I don't know a single thing about property development but (if it's not too late) maybe keep the sliding door or maybe one in the disabled toilet as it's so much more accessible for wheelchair users such as myself!

Not sure if I heard correctly but I think you said it could be a childcare setting? Looking at the current layout and size, I very much doubt it would work for that given the scale at which most want to run at given the current financial pinch. The radiators would also need covering to stop the smaller children from being burned/getting stuck etc. Be sure to visit childcare settings to see their setups before you go down that route.

The amount of Honda Jazz's that have blessed that car park would be uncountable

Cracking vid Matt, I would like to know if your getting an asbestos survey. Can't imagine the news would be that great from a building of that age and type. Can't wait to see the transformation. Really looking forward to the 2nd house vid as well. Keep up the good work

The fact how your driving thru Manchester City center then on chapel bypass messes with my head 😂😂 good videos tho mate

Plenty of space. Could make a good martial arts/dance teaching centre, with a cafe, at the front, which could be open to locals as well as waiting parents.

This is a fantastic channel - from a property investor in London. 👍👍

Matt, the one cost you could most regret with this project is the money you did not spend on a professional survey prior to bidding for this building. Time will tell. I wish you good luck with it all the same.

Woow that's an exciting project. Can't wait what it turns out to be. From my perspective the flats weren't a bad idea...Anyway looking forward for the next stage. Good luck with that Matt.

Haha you bought Wigan Community centre!! I used to live in Warrington so I know the area well

We have a property portfolio with both residential and commercial properties. The commercial ones easily outperform the residential ones for return on investment. Love your work 👍

Good buy , keep the rads ( there the best you can get ) .. I did one and made it for autistic children nursery ..great rental .. also student hostel .. flats of course … offices as well … best way to make money … property ..,

Hello Matt, good luck with this project . Ged

Been watching you for years Matt and you've gone and bought a place opposite the school I went to as a kid, and 2 minutes around the corner from my shop. You've got a good building there, I think it was used as a side building to the old court. The council are developing plans for the road it's on to become a focal point connecting the town centre to the retail park at the far end. Good luck with the works. Might see you around!

the boiler looks like an old Keston C55 on 28mm pipe work :) lovelu center! and amazing videos love them ! thanks Matt :)

Good looking project fella, get the asbestos survey done if renting is your thought. Good luck

Nice one Matt, looks very solid and has character.

I would be a bit worried Matt about those heating pipes and for that matter the radiators, with little ones, getting burnt, arms getting stuck between the wall and pipes, hands getting trapped in the radiators. I’m talking from the point of view of being a retired fireman.

Great video Matt. You obviously have an eye and a feel for upgrading and improving these type of properties and turning them into a nice passive income. I think you ought to modify your business model a bit and allow investors to give you money so that you can buy a lot more of these upgrades and you spend your time finding and defining what needs to be done. Then move to the next.

You are likely to need a change of use application with Planning Authorities if changing the building's use. Fire Doors can be changed with a revised fire strategy, especially in a single storey building. Look out for hidden asbestos under floor tiles etc. My wife's Architectural Practice has live projects in the Wigan area if you want some quick advice but your budget seems a touch light (from a long term fan of the car channel!)

Look forward to the mod. 👍👍👍👍👍

Nice buy ....good potential

Stoney on incase anyone shoots out more of your windows. Have to admire it

I would leave the tiles and tile over, check for asbestos on the roof, see if the place needs a rewire, get a plumber to commission heating, check roof for leaks - a simple commercial rent out - job done

Great buy indeed. For me I’d seek professional assistance on how best to retain the original features, I’d strip the tiles to potential unearth gems below. Old radiators restored are worth a fortune, same with original hard wood floors, they just don’t build things the same these days. Go gently with the old girl, good hunting!

I think this will be ideal for a dental clinic 🦷 . Just a thought but well done on the purchase.

Keep any doors and just re furnish them,they will be fire rated and to replace is big money that you don't need to spend, as being a community centre they will be up to regs I reckon ...... daycare, nursery, pre school etc ...... always needed and popular, but you knew that anyway ..... good luck Matt👍

Might make a nice solicitor's office or accountancy. Not very "neighborhood-like", but secure rents.

Don’t spend a penny. I would advertise as commercial but let the tenants do all the refurb and take the cost and headache off you. Plus you could renovate in anticipation of a nursery but then you only get interest from a hair dressers as an example so layouts and work could all be undone.

Good idea on the kiddy day care centre building seems made for it good shout

Nice purchase. As a commercial unit, that’s pretty solid. I’ve done 20+ properties in the last 10 years and now want to try my hand at cars (for fun, not for the ££££)

11:07 - surface mounting can still look good, some people like the industrial aesthetic. I'd not put any money into hiding it as long as it looks 'neat and tidy'.

easy peasy. change the consumer unit and sockets where needed. fix waters leaks and decorate as needed. then apply for funding as a community hub. ro creative arts centre. other option is flats but that would be a more in depth conversion.

100% drop all the ceilings, insulate above, white tiles and 600 x 600 LED grid lights will make a huge difference.

These videos are great. Expanding your empire!!😂 Seriously though good luck, wishing you all the success with it

I know exactly where this is, around 5 minutes from my house. It’s great to see it’s going to be put right rather than abandoned like so many other properties in our area. It’s a real shame the town has become so derelict, you only have to drive around see how run down it’s become. From what I remember it was part of the courts, I remember the old sign that used to be up, and the last I knew it was part of the courts although not attached to the main building. I never even realised it had changed to a nursery or whatever it was before left to rot. You’ve also got the benefit of this being so close to local transport links, people can easily commute to this building from Manchester, Wigan and Bolton. So much potential and great work Matt. You’ve got yourself a great investment, good luck 👍

Good purchase - well done 👍👍

I'm a fan of these property videos, I'm thinking of expanding my business ventures now....................

Checked out the older streetview pics, can certainly see the potential. It'll polish up well for sure, it's got character.

I like the idea of turning it into a daycare, which helps the community.

Love the additional channel, your comment of there not much to do but there is.. Remind me of the Great Martin hannet, saying faster but slower

Check out the roof, you can do flashing etc yourself, even the re-pointing too it's easy as you learn on the job, plenty of RU-vid vids. Then keep it commercial, for a longer lease, back to the community. That small area to the side I'd plant up with Olive trees in a heating up climate.

Love to see the finished project matt

Hi Matt, well done on your purchase. Please do an update on this. I think you'll find moving into commercial restoration prices not like residential unless you have a dedicated team. Commercial is a level above from repair to insurance. Good luck . Cracking building BTW.

Perfect location for a nursery

Speak to several commercial estate agents and see what there's demand for. Might be a vets, play group looking for something along these lines, get them on a long lease. Park spots reversing onto the highway might be an issues?

If its quite close to the city centre I'd be tempted to turn it into flats. I think using it as a nursery you'd have to add sorts of security and door alarms etc (I could be wrong but my daughters is like fort knox). I'm dying to get into the property game but just not at the stage where we can afford it yet unfortunately

Can't wait to see a before and after

My first thought when seeing the inside of this building is that it would make a great recording studio, but guess I would say that coming from a music production background! From my experience of studios, these are some very good looking rooms here already. High Peak Music as a new record label?? 🤣🎵

Matt, if you're binning the old desks and chairs and don't mind donating them to a good cause, we're restoring an old pub not far away as a community pub/hub and need some stuff for the back office. My dad still lives in Wigan so can arrange to collect, save space in the skip.

A challenging investment, could bring great rewards. Look forward to progress videos.

Look at you all fancy with a cameraman now. Bloody good work though and I’m really enjoying this channel

Bigger project here lad. But, you will get a good price at the end of it in rental/Lease or sale. The bones of it is very sturdy! 👍👍👍👍👍

Great video matt, if the end result is for a playschool or anything child service related I would also think about maybe relocating the electric meter to an outside wall so there are no interruptions or maybe safety concerns when a meter reader comes callingl

Damn it, all the time and effort that you're putting into these vids is awesome. All the best with this venture.

When you decide what purpose of the building you want, then you'll need to hire a fire engineer who will design a new fire strategy for the building and then you'll need to ask fire protection and fire door companies to price the job. It's not that easy as you may think mate

I've looked at a few similar type of properties but never knew whether to convert into a house or leave as a commercial building. One thing that worries me about yours - it would be a death trap in the event of a fire - some of those bars on the windows should be removed perhaps to allow escape? Also seeing those bars would have made me question the safety / desirability of the area it was in. Anyway, very interested to see what you do with it. Oh yeah, existing tiles (if they are secure) are one of the best surfaces to easily tile on top of.

Ideal for a Nursery m8 it mostly looks superficial bit of paint and like you say flooring etc,best thing is to get it checked by someone that knows what you’ll have to do to make it child friendly. It can happen but they very rarely go bust. You will need fire doors etc and everything that involves H and S I would say a bit more than 12k though.

Talk to your accountant about adding it into your pension scheme. Rent it out and add the income into your pension. This option is only a available for commercial properties.

Loving your ambition Matt 👍🏻 really looking forward to seeing how it progresses. Best of British to you and your mate 😀

Haven’t watched the video yet but Matt’s ‘man at C&A’ on the thumbnail made me laugh. 😂👍