The Scandal Of 40,000 Empty Homes Across The North West
A fifth of England’s empty homes – just under 40,000 – are in the North West, a new report from the National Housing Federation (NHF) reveals.
Statistically, the North West has the highest number of empty homes in the country – the same number of empty homes as the North East and Yorkshire and Humber combined, writes Bill Tanner at 24Housing.co.uk. This is despite the fact that the number of empty homes in the region has almost halved since 2008, when it reached a peak of 73,888. These figures are from the North West Home Truths 2017/18 report, which publishes annual data on the region’s housing trends.
The North West doesn’t have a housing shortage like other areas of the country but much of the housing stock that does exist isn’t suitable and ends up abandoned or empty. Although the population of the North West as a whole increased by nearly 300,000 in the last census, it has areas in decline.
Eight local authorities saw a drop in population, and there are currently 8,400 empty homes in those areas. In the North West last year, housing associations completed nearly 3,400 new homes and started work on just under 4,300 more.
Ciaran Tully, NHF external affairs manager for the North West, said: “It can’t be right to leave property empty when so many are desperate for a place to live – empty properties in some areas are having a profound impact on local markets and those who need housing. What we need is a genuine commitment to ensuring good quality affordable housing is available at the right price, in the right places and for the right people.”
“Building homes not only creates jobs, but also supports jobs in housing associations once they are built and adds money to the local economy from residents’ spending. Housing associations are doing just this but we now need the backing of key local partners to help us build in the right places, free up planning and help us to deliver the types of affordable housing needed most. With this support we can not only ramp up supply, but also begin vital regeneration projects, enhance infrastructure and bring empty homes back into use.”
The same research reveals the North East has seen a rise of around 500 empty homes since 2013 – a 3% increase. Numbers hit a peak of 22,531 in 2008 then fell dramatically by 30% to 15,900 in 2013. Now, there are 16,300 empty homes in the region – 8% of all England’s empty homes – according to the NHF’s North East Home Truths 2017/18 report. In the North East, housing associations built over 1,500 homes and started a further 1,200 in the year 2016/17.
