A scheme to bring 800 of Greater Manchester’s 25,000 empty houses back into use began with a host of events taking place in Tameside last week.
Managed by New Charter and Ashton Pioneer Homes, the ‘Empty to Plenty’ campaign hopes to tackle to growing issue of vacant housing.
The scheme aims to target properties that could be prey to vandalism and crime and Tameside Council are eager to regenerate some areas in need of stimulation.
Executive Leader of Tameside Council, Councillor Kieran Quinn said the options developed by those involved in the scheme will provide an ‘all-round solution’ for owners of empty properties.
He added: “We are committed to supporting people who are concerned about being an empty property owner.”
This will be achieved through a regular financial return on the house, along with management services geared towards making the building habitable again.
The vacant properties may be owned by a landlord who cannot find tenants or is in need of renovation that the owners cannot afford.
To combat the number of empty homes increasing, ten councils have teamed up with the Homes and Communities Agency and local Housing Associations.
A £30million investment from them and the Government is in place to revitalise 800 Greater Manchester homes.
Eamonn Boylan, Lead Officer of Greater Manchester Planning and Housing Commission, urges everyone with an empty property to find out more about the help available to them through the scheme.
He said: “Through partnership working we will provide home owners with advice, support and funding to bring their empty homes back to life, turning the strain of an empty property into a profitable asset.”
In Tameside, New Charter is working with the council to bring 20 homes back into use within the next year, with the entire borough hoping to regenerate 50.
They will be buying and repairing empty houses, before adding them to the rent housing stock they already own, offering affordable accommodation to those who really need it.
New Charter have already completed four houses this quarter.
Sean Stafford, director of development and investment at New Charter Homes, said: “We fully appreciate the effect that empty homes have on their owners and the communities that they are present in so we are delighted to be part of the Empty to Plenty initiative across Greater Manchester.
“The housing shortage is one that we are very aware of, and, while we remain committed to developing new properties we believe that this initiative is a great start to contributing to the solution.”
For more information about the ‘Empty to Plenty’ campaign click here.
Picture courtesy of underclassing.net via Flickr, with thanks.
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