A FACELIFT FOR ALL PROPERTIES 'MADE SENSE' TO UPLIFT THE WHOLE STREET

THE city councillor responsible for housing, Robert Troup, has defended spending money on the three properties which are still empty, saying it had to be put into the context of the entire improvement scheme.

Funding for the facelift scheme was provided by the Government through the Single Regeneration Programme and the Urban II funding regime. The rest was won from a Government bid, via Derby City Partnership.

Councillor Troup, cabinet member for housing and public protection, said: "Most of the money spent on Hartington Street came from funding outside the council budget. A condition of this funding was that at least 45 of the 50 or so properties were included in the facelift scheme. It made sense that we did the improvements on both empty and occupied properties so that the look of the whole street would be uplifted."

He stressed the council was keen to get the empty properties back into occupation, but could not rush into buying the houses.

"We can't just rush in and take immediate action. Gaining compulsory purchase orders is a lengthy and expensive procedure, so we always try and use other methods if we can.

"We make contact with the landlords and try to persuade them to do the necessary work voluntarily. But at the end of the day, if we need to, we will start legal proceedings.

"The owners of the three properties on Hartington Street are working to bring them back to use and into a better state of repair. "However, we will be keeping a close eye on them to make sure that happens.

"And if they fail to make these repairs, we will take the matter up again.

"Dealing with empty properties remains a pro-active strategy for the Council.

"In a time of housing shortage and the blight of anti-social behaviour associated with empty properties, the council will continue to use its powers to improve the quality of life for those people living near an empty property and to work to bring empty properties back into use at the earliest opportunity."

Councillor Troup added: "A compulsory purchase order is a last resort. As yet, we haven't exhausted all our options when it comes to these properties on Hartington Street."

There are around 4,000 empty homes in Derby.

At present, approximately 10,000 people are on the council's waiting list for alternative accommodation.

Derby City Council has an Empty Homes Strategy, which aims to return long-term private sector empty homes to beneficial use.

Measures can include empty dwelling management orders, in which the council takes over the management of a property.