DERELICT homes classed as long-term empty now total almost 1,500 across the borough, according to a Barnsley Council report.
The local authority’s ruling cabinet members met on Wednesday to discuss ambitious proposals to bring 300 of those back into use by 2021, which saw a sum of £1.5m set aside to help the scheme.
Latest performance figures show the council brought 171 homes back into use between April and December last year, reducing the number of long-term empty homes by four per cent - bucking the national trend which has seen a rise of six per cent.
As part of the plan, buying privately-owned empty homes - which will be repaired and brought into the social housing market - is one of the aims, while enforcement powers will be used to target negligent landlords.
Coun Roy Miller, cabinet spokesman, said: “It’s encouraging news that the number of empty properties across the borough is decreasing - a real indication that the work we’ve been doing has been making a difference.
“It’s also positive that we’re bucking the national trend so we’re clearly doing something right, and by offering an enhanced programme like this, it’s anticipated that we’ll continue to build momentum and see this trend continue.
“Properties become empty for a whole host of reasons and by offering this programme which is tailored to meet individual circumstances as well as different types of support, we’ll break down the barriers that are stopping empty home owners doing what they need to do to return them back into use.
“Wherever possible, the council would like to develop positive relationships with empty home owners and work with them to overcome the barriers they may face.
“However, where there is no realistic way forward and the property fails to meet certain criteria, the council will look to use its statutory enforcement powers - including forced sale of the property.”
At the cabinet meeting, council leader Sir Steve Houghton said: “We really need to bring these properties back into use.”
Although Barnsley’s downward trend has been praised, figures show homes which have been empty for between six months and two years stand at 935, while the two-year to five-year bracket includes 311 homes.
Five years to ten years represents 167, while there are 72 homes which have been empty for more than ten years a total of 1,485 across the borough.
n The Penistone area has the largest proportion of long-term empty homes in the borough. See the Penistone section of #Local inside this week’s Chronicle Living.
