Dear Supporters,
Wirral Council are currently proposing to include in the Draft Local Plan a figure of 90 EMPTY HOMES PER YEAR to be brought back in to use.
This is despite the fact that in 2018 there were nearly 5000 EMPTY PROPERTIES ON THE WIRRAL.
This is also despite the fact that, over the last 9 years the Council have, on average, brought back 291 empty homes per year in to use!
Why is the Council only proposing to include in the Local Plan a figure of just 90 empty properties per year brought back in to use? This throws away the potential for including an additional 2000+ homes in the Local Plan and would not require the release of green belt land.
Please email your comments about this to localplan@wirral.gov.uk before 23rd March 2020
Start your email with the header "Response to Wirral Local Plan Consultation Feb 2020" and add your name, address, phone number and status (i.e resident of XXXX)
Even if you have already responded to the local plan consultation you can send in as many comments as you wish.
Please see the paper below prepared by the Wirral Green Space Alliance for further info about the empty homes.......
Wirral Local Plan Consultation (Reg 18) 2020
Empty Homes Commentary
By ITPAS (Irby, Thurstaston & Pensby Amenity Society) + WGSA (Wirral Green Space Alliance)
1. The Wirral Local Plan 'Empty Homes' Reports (Jan 2020) are considered to be flawed in significant ways and in the conclusions.
2. Having praised Wirral's regime for delivery of 'Empty Homes' back into use in all critical aspects, it concludes that the contribution to the Housing Supply should be meagre when compared with Wirral's onsistent past delivery.
3. There is a lack of confidence and ambition shown, with a minimising of potential which is unjustified. The findings should have led to a commitment to expand the programme.
4. The current situation is given in the 'Key Findings' of the Task 1 Report:
1.2 Key Findings
1.2.1 Wirral Council have a proactive approach to addressing the number of empty homes within the Borough. Initiatives currently include Long Term Empty Homes Premium, empty property grants and appropriate assistance to support empty property owners via various schemes outlined in their corporate Housing Strategy. These initiatives have achieved a continued and sustained decrease in empty home numbers, with over 250[1] homes brought back into active use each year through the Council’s intervention.
1.2.2 There is support within previous consultations to focus on bringing empty homes back into use and including them within the Council’s housing supply or within their windfall allowance.
5. That Report goes on to say in the 'Introduction':
"2.1.1 Empty homes are an important and complicated issue both nationally and locally in Wirral. The overall number of empty homes within Wirral in 2018 was 4,955 dwellings with an overall sustained decrease in the number of empty homes since 2004.
2.1.2 To achieve this sustained decrease, the Council have a proactive and positive approach to managing empty homes which includes:
• Long Term Empty Homes Premium through Council Tax;
• The Wirral Council Developers List;
• Financial assistance with empty property grants;
• Enforcement;
• Enforced sale;
• A range of support and advice measures and linkages with housing options;
• Property accreditation; and
• Overall strategic aim through the Wirral Housing Strategy."
6. This is more than good, it is exemplary as a 'model' set-up. Enviably consistent delivery includes a steady overall reduction in the number of 'Empty Homes' and great consistency of numbers delivered, as shown:
Numbers of empties brought back into use p.a.
2009/10
2010/11 - 270
2011/12 - 294
2012/13 - 296
2013/14 - 300
2014/15 - 302
2015/16 - 280
2016/17 - 308
2017/18 - 290
20/18 - 280
Average number of properties brought back into use each year during the period is 291.
7. A case could be made for either 'sustained delivery' or 'increased delivery' by showing continued support and possibly an increased commitment within the existing Policy. Instead, the Council has meekly agreed to an average figure of just 90 pa. This is a disgrace and throws away a potential Supply capacity of over 2,000 homes over the Period. The excuse is concern that the Inspector may rule 'Empty Homes' out entirely.
8. That dismal outcome is considered unlikely having regard to the history of Inspectors' decisions when faced with such a good, consistent delivery, a Policy in place, commitment by the Council and a large supply of 'Empty Homes'. In such circumstances, surely having a 'sustained delivery' or 'increased delivery' within the Local Plan would more likely see the outcome as one of:
● 'increased delivery' accepted or subject to 'main modification'
● 'sustained delivery' accepted or subject to 'main modification', or
● 'sustained delivery' less, say, 25% for caution as subject to 'main modification'.
9. Four Case Studies are included. All are unsuitable for the drawing of parallels.
1. Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea. A London council is hardly comparable, especially one with low delivery and negative delivery for 3 of the last 10 years when Wirral has had a consistent delivery more than six times as many.
2. Barrow in Furness. A council with NO 'Empty Homes' Strategy or Policy unlike Wirral. Despite this, the Inspector insisted an allowance be added through 'Main Modification'. This should give confidence.
3. East Lindsey Council. A council with a small population and a tiny delivery.
4. Birmingham City Council. A very dissimilar council with a population 3.5 times the size of Wirral but with a much less successful delivery record.
10. As Case Studies, they are not suited to Wirral's case, except in as much as they should give the Council great confidence, ambition and resolve - sadly absent. The hope is that at Regulation 19, the Council will believe in themselves and include a much higher figure.
11. Including a higher figure would suit the Council's stated Aim of delivering the homes needed without any release of Green Belt land.
[1] Delivery over last 9 years has been between 270 and 308, averaging 291per annum