Bringing empty homes back into use in Telford praised
Strategy is set to be refreshed at a cabinet meeting tomorrow
A pub conversion scheme in Telford has been highlighted as a case study in a council’s strategy to bring empty homes back into use.
The Red Lion in Wellington had been a stalled development site for so long that it was attracting anti social behaviour and causing neighbourhood blight.
Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet is this week set to update its five year empty homes strategy.
In the last five years it brought 384 empty homes back into use. It wants to up this to 400 in the next five years.
The authority’s strategy document looks at some of the ways empty homes have been brought back into use. This has included using the law.
In the case of the Red Lion the council states that it used local authority investment and £1 million in external grant money to transform this site.
It now has 11 units of council owned/operated supported accommodation.
The scheme has also helped save £183,000 a year in the adult social care budget.
Officials also note the case of a bungalow that had been empty for “many years”.
It was “deep behind a number of 20 foot conifer trees” and being “constantly broken into and used for anti-social behaviour and other forms of criminality”.
It was an “eyesore and source of fear for the neighbourhood”.
The case study notes that after extensive engagement with the owner, they agreed to sell the property to the local authority.
“Taking into consideration the need for affordable bungalows, we have repurposed this property for a family in need of a level access property,” the report notes.
“The conifers have been removed, eliminating cover for anti-social behaviour and criminal activity while creating more light and open space for the wider neighbourhood.
“Residents have reported feeling happier and safer as a result.”
The council’s cabinet will be asked to approved the Empty Homes Strategy on Thursday.
Councillor Nathan England (Labour, The Nedge) the council’s Cabinet Member for Safer Streets and Better Housing, said: “We smashed our target under the last strategy and, as one of the few authorities tackling this issue head-on, we are committed to continuing this work and confident we can build on that success.
“Over the next five years, our strategy outlines how we’ll continue to tackle this issue while listening to what matters most to our communities.
“Bringing empty homes back into use helps meet local housing needs, while making the most of existing properties and complementing wider investment in housing across the borough.”