B&Q

Going the same way around here in sw London. I think its actually worth a lot of money if the land can be made into houses, unfortunately most of what they then build are for the rich, the scrag end is provided for the plebs, but with no parking as they want us to use cycles and busses.

Brian

Well my kids (both grown up) don't.

One lives with his sister and the other his grandmother.

Youngest lad wants something ready to move into apparently, with a drive. Good luck with that, eh? He should probably think about saving for a hefty deposit.

There is much talk of how it's impossible to get on the housing ladder these days what with the prices and all, but looking around you can get a house in the same condition I bought mine 20 odd years ago for much the same price.

Single glazed, no CH, needed decorating throughout etc...

Last thing on their Christmas list is a toolbox.

The super-rich don't, they pay people to do it. Generation rent don't, and their landlords generally don't use B&Q because anywhere else is cheaper. Council tenants don't because their landlords also use tradesment who have accounts with proper merchants.

That just leaves decorating stuff, garden things and other nonsense and plenty of other outlets do that.

Funnily enough I had to pop to a Homebase today (to pick the waste that no one else wants to stock).

It's clear they aren't going to abandon this branch - just been moved (only 100 metres admittedly) refitted with Amazon lockers too.

Maybe they're going for fewer but (even) bigger ?

Of course the real draw is to flog their design services.

Belton & Slade? They were still there fairly recently. Wanted some decent small side cutters for electronics stuff - sadly they didn't have what I wanted.

Just been one sold in this street I'd say needs total modernisation. Didn't seem to make much difference to the price. Sold for a scary amount.

No B&Q for a good half-hour drive! Homebase still exists but I pinch myself every time I go past. Can't believe it is still going.

We do have Screwfix and a collection of builders merchant and related places - and some paint specialists.

Certainly fewer do because its now much harder to do what you did, buy an older place and DIY its deficiencies.

otherway round here: B&Q has a choice about 15 mins away in two different diretions. Homebase closed its nearest branch - a choice of 3 -each about half an hour away.

yes. and Toolstation

Belton and Slade. Brilliant shop, and still there opposite Buckhold Road.

The problem has arisen due to not doing woodwork/metalwork at schools these days.

I wonder what mr Block and Mr Quail would make of all this today? Brian

Elf'n'Safety, no doubt.

Maybe if they used plastic tools and worked with expanded polystyrene it would be deemed "safe" (but probably not, what with all that plastic being distinctly not environmentally acceptable).

There are 7 houses listed on Right Move in our small town all under 50k.

They'd need work and would never qualify as a Des Res but a relatively small deposit and mortgage would get a young person on the property ladder. But I can guarantee they'll end up with a To Let board on them.

How far are said houses from the sort of job needed to pay the mortgage

The sort of job needed to pay a £30oddK mortgage and find a few grand to tart up?

Walking distance.

The lease ended on the Lancaster B&Q, it's going to be (another) Aldi (there are already 2 within 5 miles).

At least there's two Screwfixes with 3 miles of each other, plus a Toolstation and a Wickes.

Of course not. Few can afford to buy houses due to the explosion of the UK population from immigration from developing countries that Major and Bliar supported joining the EU.

Remind us the average age where someone buys their first house? And compare to pre-2004.

:-)