Land Trust Development to ruin green belt despite 60,000 empty homes

Land Trust Development is still plodding ahead with its scheme to ruin green belt land in Bristol, despite nearly 60,000 homes standing empty in the South West of Enland.

 

The much criticised plans to build 10,000 homes at Ashton Park, including bulldozing green belt land are ridiculous in light of the fact that 59,237 dwellings in the South West of England are empty.

 

Of these, 22,099 having been empty for more than six months.

 

South West councils are now being given more support to help them bring empty homes back in to use.

 

Housing Minister Margaret Beckett is calling on councils to take firmer action with vacant properties, and guidance is being published with the Empty Homes Agency.

 

Local authorities are being given stronger powers to deal with empty homes, including the use of Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMO).

 

An EDMO would allow councils to take over management, though not total ownership  of an empty property.

 

Margaret Beckett said: “Empty homes blight local neighbourhoods and can potentially attract anti-social behaviour. That is why councils must do all they can to bring empty homes in their area back into use.

 

“I believe that with an increased focus and more consistent approach we can bring more homes back into use. With house building slowing in the current economic climate, that is more important than ever.

 

“The new guidance helps strengthen the role of councils by setting out the broad powers they have to deal with empty homes, and is part of the range of actions we are taking to support the regeneration of our towns and cities.”

 

Chief Executive of the Empty Homes Agency David Ireland said: “Local authorities have the power to be great at helping return empty homes to use. Some already are, but with the recession causing more homes to fall empty it has never been more important for all councils to do more. New homes from empty properties can help meet some of the need left by falling house building rates. I’m delighted that the Minister is supporting this guidance and urge local authorities to take her challenge to take more proactive action.”