Councillors to review Pendle’s Empty Homes Strategy

Tomorrow (Wednesday 17 December), councillors will be asked to adopt the Strategy at the Council’s Executive meeting.

Councillor David Whipp, Leader of Pendle Borough Council, said: “I very much welcome this updated Empty Homes Strategy which will guide our work up to 2030.

“It follows on from the investment of £600,000 put into the programme in February to give us a range of tools to bring empty properties back into use.

“Our ambition is to address long-term empty properties and help ease the housing crisis in Pendle.

“Costs for temporary accommodation have skyrocketed and families needing urgent housing support continue to rise. It’s vital we do all we can to help those in need.

“By making more use of existing housing we can also protect our hugely valued greenfield spaces.”

The Strategy sets out a refreshed framework aimed at bringing long-term empty homes back into use.

Its overarching aim is to introduce and deliver a range of measures that will directly or indirectly support the re-occupation of empty properties.

Key objectives include:

• raising awareness of empty homes across the borough.
• maintaining and improving the accuracy of the Council’s empty homes database.
• supporting and encouraging property owners to bring their empty homes back into use.
• targeting the most problematic empty properties with enforcement action.

Councillor Zafar Ali, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Customer Services, said: “Empty homes continue to pose challenges across Pendle, particularly in areas of low housing demand.

“Long-term vacant properties can contribute to neighbourhood decline, attract anti-social behaviour, and represent a wasted housing asset.

“Addressing this issue is a key component of the Council’s wider regeneration approach.”