Using empty buildings to create much-needed homes

More than 20,000 homes could be created in England from empty local authority buildings.

This is the finding from the all-party parliamentary groups for Housing Market & Housing Delivery and Ending Homelessness. The two groups published a report after a joint inquiry into repurposing empty properties into residential homes.

Their joint report says there is significant potential for housing supply to be increased this way, providing there are safeguards in place to ensure that the homes delivered are of high quality and genuinely affordable.

The MPs reviewed evidence from housing and homelessness organisations, local government, planning experts and developers. It found 14% of retail space and 7% of office space is currently vacant. They have called on the government to strengthen standards and implement a Healthy Homes Principle to ensure high quality homes.

Ben Everitt MP, chairman of the APPG for Housing Market and Delivery, said the groups wanted to look at creative housing supply solutions that are available in the short-term and hoped the government would take forward the recommendations.

Although their inquiry was targeted at increasing stock for sale that is genuinely affordable, the principles could be used to provide more accommodation in the private rental sector.

Sheldon Bosley Knight associate director Nik Kyriacou said: “This report makes some interesting recommendations and it will be interesting to see if the government acts on them.

“We all know there is a demand for housing which is affordable and up to a decent standard. However, adopting this strategy could also have the potential to create more rental units as there is a significant imbalance between supply and demand in this sector.

“The government has abandoned its manifesto pledge to build 300,000 homes per year, and as we don’t want to encroach on greenbelt land, there needs thought put into creative ways in which we can gain more units both for sale and for rent.”