Criticism of government empty homes policy

The government has come under scathing attack following a u-turn with regard to empty homes in England and Wales.

It had been proposed councils would be rewarded for taking action to bring empty property back into use.

However, following the publication of the government's latest housing action plan - Facing the housing challenge - Action today, Innovation for Tomorrow – it appears this is no longer the case.

Instead, the government is to reward local councils for bringing brown field sites back into use, freeing space for the building of social housing – a decision to which the Empty Homes Agency (EHA) has reacted furiously.

"Given the government's continued obsession with new house building this is depressingly predictable - but that doesn't make it any less disappointing," said EHA's chief executive, David Ireland.

"In October last year the government announced the proposals by describing the purpose of the grant was to deliver more affordable housing by bringing empty homes back into use and giving more cash to communities who are building more homes."

This pledge, however, has now been scrapped.

It is thought there are over 600,000 empty homes in the UK, over 200,000 of which have been empty for over six months.

While a small number are required to ensure liquidity in the system, the EHA argues a number could be included in government housing targets.

Some 57 per cent of responses to the EHA consultation supported the view councils should be rewarded for using empty homes, while only 17 per cent were against.

"However, now they've decided not to bother and just reward councils for giving planning permission for new housing developments instead," continued Mr Ireland.

"Empty properties blight communities and represent a huge waste of potential homes. By the government's own figures, the problem is increasing at an alarming rate, yet they have turned their back on an important way they could have helped."

Chris O'Toole