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<p>Statistics on vacant dwellings in England and by local authority are published
in the Department’s Live Table 615, which is available at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-dwelling-stock-including-vacants"
target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-dwelling-stock-including-vacants</a></p><p>
</p><p> </p><p>My Department does not publish regional statistics.</p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>I would note that under this Government, the number of long-term empty homes
has fallen by a third from the base line of 316,251 in October 2009 to 216,050 in
October 2013. The number of empty homes overall is at a ten year low.</p><p> </p><p>
</p><p>The Coalition Government has delivered a comprehensive package of policies
to help get empty homes and buildings back into use. We have:</p><p> </p><ul><li>provided
over £200 million to fund innovative schemes run by community groups, councils and
housing associations up and down the country to bring empty properties back into use.
So far, our funding has enabled local groups to create almost 6,000 new homes from
empty property – providing apprenticeship and training opportunities as well as more
homes and better neighbourhoods for local people – with the potential to deliver more.</li></ul><p>
</p><ul><li>Rewarded councils for bringing 100,000 empty homes back into use through
the New Homes Bonus;</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Given councils new powers to remove
council tax subsidies to empty homes, and use the funds to keep the overall rate of
council tax down. We have also changed tax rules to discourage the use of corporate
envelopes to invest in high value housing which may be left empty or under-used to
avoid paying tax;</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Cancelled the Labour Government’s Pathfinder
programme which sought to demolish homes, instead of focusing on refurbishment and
getting empty homes into use; and revoked associated pro-demolition guidance from
the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister;</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Taken forward the
best practice recommendations produced by our independent empty homes adviser, George
Clarke—such as refurbishment and upgrading of existing homes should be the first and
preferred option, and that demolition of existing homes should be the last option
after all forms of market testing and options for refurbishment are exhausted; we
have embedded these principles in our housing programme funding schemes;</li></ul><p>
</p><ul><li>Reformed Community Infrastructure Levy regulations to provide an increased
incentive for brownfield development, extending exemptions for empty buildings being
brought back into use. We have reduced Section 106 burdens on vacant buildings being
returned to use.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Introduced the Right to Contest, building
on our existing Community Right to Reclaim Land, which lets communities ask that under-used
or unused land owned by public bodies is brought back into beneficial use. This new
right applies to central Government sites currently in use, but are not vital for
operations.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Amended national planning policy through the
National Planning Policy Framework to encourage councils to bring back empty properties
back into use;</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Funded a new business rates reoccupation relief
to help bring empty shops back into use; and</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Reformed permitted
development rights in a number of ways to free up the planning system and facilitate
the conversion of redundant and under-used non-residential buildings into new homes.</li></ul>
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