Call to bring back 2,922 empty Northampton homes into use (Andrew Simpson)

Call to bring back 2,922 empty Northampton homes into use

January 17, 2010 11:00 PM

Figures published by the Liberal Democrats have identified nearly 3,000 empty homes in Northampton which the party says could be brought back into use under their proposals.

"This is a surprising figure and questions the Governments approach to simply imposing new housing developments on the town." said Andrew Simpson, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Northampton North.

"There are examples of empty houses around Northampton where nothing seems to happen for years. A combination of providing incentives for owners to bring them back into use and more power to local authorities to compulsory purchase them could see empty houses used for valuable additional housing".

The Liberal Democrats have announced a package of measures designed to bring back empty homes into use for both social housing and for the private sector. The plans announced by Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg MP, allocated an investment of £1billion from redirected Government expenditure towards renovation of empty homes. DCLG figures estimate over 750,000 empty houses across the country.

"With around 6,000 people waiting for a council house in Northampton renovating and bringing back into use these empty homes could help cut this number by provide valuable additional homes in the town." continued Andrew

"What's more the cost of bringing these homes back into use is just a fraction of the cost of build new ones yet the Government is sitting idly by while they fall into disrepair."

"This could help address some of the housing targets being imposed on the town by the Government and protect precious green field sites from development."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. Calculation of Empty Homes

As attached but based on the Council Tax Base calculations made by the Department for Communities and Local Government in October 2009 see here for data collection http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/pdf/160486.pdf

2. Northampton numbers on the Council House waiting list

http://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/news/Council-house-waiting-list-up.5666351.jp

3. Liberal Democrat Housing Manifesto

See below for detail on the policy initiative : http://www.libdems.org.uk/latest_news_detail.aspx?title=Liberal_Democrats_launch_manifesto_housing_pledge&pPK=4d0d1fec-31bf-4415-93d9-24c098c4c4b9